Five New York City FC players are away on international duty during the November break: Drew Baiera, Tayvon Gray, Mitja Ilenič, Alonso Martínez, Jovan Mijatović, Tomás Romero, and Zidane Yañéz were all called up to their national teams.
Drew Baiera, United States U-19
Baiera earned his first call-up to the United States U-19 for a training camp in Valencia, Spain, and friendlies against Japan and Sweden. The 17-year old right-back is a regular starter for NYCFC II, with four goals in 26 appearances across all competitions. Baiera has three caps with the U-16s and two with the U-18s, but this will be his first appearance with the U-19s.
Tayvon Gray, Jamaica national team
Gray was called up to a Jamaica national team squad competing in the Concacaf Nations League. The Reggae Boyz are at the top of League A Group B with four points after two games. They play Nicaragua on Thursday, October 10, and Honduras on Monday, October 14. Gray last featured for Jamaica on June 9, when he went the full 90' in a 1-0 win over the Dominican Republic in a World Cup Qualifier.
Andrew Leigh
Mitja Ilenič, Slovenia U-21
Ilenič is back with the Slovenia U-21s as they continue their campaign to qualify for the 2025 UEFA Euro U-21 Championship. Slovenia are at the top of Group H, ahead of France, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Cyprus. They will face Austria on Friday, October 11. Ilenič was in the Starting XI for both of Slovenia's games in September, going the full 90' in both their 2-0 win over Cyprus and their 1-1 draw with France.
Alonso Martínez, Costa Rica national team
Martínez received his second consecutive call-up to the Costa Rica national team. Los Ticos are competing in the Concacaf Nations League, where they are in first place in League A Group A. Costa Rica face Suriname on Friday, October 11, then will host Guatemala on Tuesday, October 15. Martínez last featured for Costa Rica in their 3-0 win over Guadeloupe on September 5, when the striker made the Starting XI and saw 63' of playing time.
Jovan Mijatović, Serbia U-21
Mijatović is once again with the Serbia U-21s for the 2025 UEFA Euro U-21 Championship qualifiers. Serbia are in third place in Group F, behind Ukraine and England. They will face Ukraine on Tuesday, October 15. Mijatović was in the Starting XI for both of Serbia's games in September, when the 19-year-old made his debut for the U-21 team. He scored in the 2-0 win over Azerbaijan, giving him three goals for Serbia across all youth teams.
Tomás Romero, El Salvador national team
Romero is with the El Salvador national team, which will face St. Vincent on Thursday, October 10, and the Grenadines on Sunday, October 13. El Salvador are also competing in the Concacaf Nations League, and are at the top of League B Group A with two wins out of two played. The 23-year-old goalkeeper played the full 90' in El Salvador's 1-4 win over Montserrat in September.
Zidane Yañéz, Chile U-15
Yañéz has been in Bolivia with the Chile U-15 since last week, when competition in the CONMEBOL Sudamericano U-15 began. The No 10 is proving to be a goal machine, scoring four times in three games. Chile won all three of those matches, and will advance to the knockout round no matter the result of tomorrow's final Group Stage game against Paraguay.
Yañéz has featured only once for NYCFC II this year, playing a total of 3' after coming on as a late substitute on September 15.
Courtesy Instagram
Confusingly, this is the 2023 CONMEBOL Sudamericano U-15, which was planned for last December but delayed for reasons that were never made clear. Player eligibility is determined by the dates of the original tournament, which is why Yañéz and other 16-year-olds are taking part.
