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So far in 2026, Rapids Academy has seen 13 players receive international call ups across various nations and age groups. From the United States, to Trinidad and Tobago, to St. Kitts and Nevis, Colorado has been producing some of the top youth talent in recent years at the international level. With all these countries consistently represented, there is one national team that has seen a significant rise in representation from Rapids Academy: El Tri.
The Mexican Youth National Team has eyed three Rapids Academy players to be a part of their system in recent history, with Alex Hernandez, Jonathan De La Fuente, and Xavier Soria all receiving calls to represent Mexico within the last year.
“Seeing Alex, Jonny, and Xavi represent Mexico at the Youth National Team level is a profound moment of pride for our entire community,” said Rapids Academy Director Andrew Kewley. “These three young men, who began their Academy journey in the Rapids Futures Program, have evolved into true pillars of their teams through relentless hard work and character that has fed their incredible talent”.
Whether it is for tournaments, development camps, or general international friendlies, all three players have gotten significant exposure to the national team, which means much more to them than just another step in their playing careers.
“It is a source of pride,” De La Fuente explained. “Knowing my family is from there, I am the first to reach this point with my club, and now, with the national team. I’m so proud”.
De La Fuente, 16, has been a standout within the Academy since his arrival two years ago. The midfielder is a key member of the 2009 age group and captained the U-18 squad on multiple occasions, leading the team in minutes played this season.
Within the last six months, De La Fuente has received three call ups to the U-17 side for Mexico, consistently playing in key matches. Back in January, he competed with the group in the Torneo del Sol in Mexico, helping the side win the tournament final after playing four total matches. In addition to that competition, De La Fuente also featured heavily for the U-17 group in their recent Concacaf U-17 World Cup Qualifying matches. Mexico played in four matches back in early February, with De La Fuente starting in all four, logging a total of 294 minutes as he helped guide the group to four wins with a 20-2 goal differential.
In addition to De La Fuente, Alex Hernandez is another 16-year-old within Rapids Academy that has caught the eye of the Mexican National Team system.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be selected by the Mexican National Team,” Hernandez glowed. “I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunity”.
Hernandez joined the Colorado Rapids Futures Program in 2022 from local youth side ALBION SC Denver. Since joining, he has played a key role for Colorado across multiple major tournaments including MLS NEXT Cup, Generation adidas Cup, and MLS NEXT Flex. He has spent a majority of his time with the U-16 group but has played up with the U-18 side on multiple occasions.
With Mexico, the midfielder has received multiple call ups, with his most recent one coming in March for the U-16 group’s appearance in the Mondial Football Montaigu tournament in France. Prior to that, Hernandez had been included in multiple squads for both training camps and international friendlies.
The third Rapids Academy player to feature internationally for Mexico is the youngest of the bunch, Xavier Soria.
The 15-year-old recently received his first call up to Mexico in April, joining the U-15 side for a pair of international friendlies.
“I was incredibly happy,” Soria said when describing that first international call up. “It was a really special moment for me and my family.”
Soria joined the Rapids Academy system through the Futures Program in 2022. In MLS NEXT play this season, the midfielder has been playing up an age group with the U-16 side, where he has logged over 1,000 minutes. Most recently, Soria excelled at this year’s Generation adidas Cup, where he logged three assists.
All three players, who have deep ties to the state of Colorado, are now bringing their experiences with them and shining on the world stage. They, alongside numerous other members of the Academy, are showing that their development here in the Centennial State is setting them up for success, not only with Rapids Academy, but with their national teams as well.
“It is incredibly special to see them carry the colors of their local clubs, Albion Denver and Real Centaurus, alongside the Colorado Rapids onto the international stage,” Kewley continued. “Their success is a shared victory for the coaches who mentored them, the families who supported them, and the teammates who pushed them. By reaching this level, Alex, Jonny, and Xavi are doing more than just playing a game—they are setting a powerful example for the next generation of local talent, proving that, with dedication, the path from our community to the world stage is wide open”.
