CHICAGO (March 20, 2024) – Twelve players have been selected to represent the U.S. Men’s Beach Soccer National Team at the 2024 El Salvador Cup in Costa del Sol, El Salvador. The USBMNT will be led during the tournament by interim head coach Ian Carry, who previously served as the team’s goalkeeper coach during the past World Cup cycle.
Set to play its first matches of the 2025 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup cycle, the No. 13-ranked USA will face No. 10-ranked Switzerland (March 28; 7:15 p.m. ET), No. 17 ranked-El Salvador (March 29; 10 p.m. ET), and No. 18 ranked-Morocco (March 30; 7:15 p.m. ET). All matches will be shown live on ESPN3.
“At the start of a new World Cup cycle, this camp represents a new opportunity for all 12 players taking part,” said Carry. “This roster has a unique balance of experience, players who have not been available due to injury, and those who have impressed in domestic camps. As we look to carry the program forward, we’ve spoken the past two weeks about the importance of our work rate, accountability and overall discipline on the sand. Ultimately, this is a group which understands the importance of these three highly competitive matches, and starting off on the right foot as this team prepares to qualify for another Beach Soccer World Cup next year.”
The roster features six returnees from the squad that represented the USA at the 2024 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup last month in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with goalkeeper Austin Collier, defenders Antonio Chavez and Nico Perea, midfielders Tanner Akol and Cody Valcarcel, and forward Andres Navas back in the fold. Both Collier and Navas scored in the USA’s group stage finale against Egypt.
The camp also marks the return of four players who have previously been involved with the USBMNT. Defender Jason Santos and midfielder David Mondragon, who were both part of the 2019 and 2021 World Cup squads, return this month. Santos last appeared for the USA at the 2022 Intercontinental Cup in Dubai, while Mondragon will seek his first caps since the 2021 World Cup in Moscow, Russia.
Meanwhile, forward Alvaro Franco, who was part of the U.S. team that won the 2023 Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship, gets his first call-up since recovering from an ACL injury which kept him out of last month’s World Cup. Forward Mikel Palmerin, who earned six caps for the USBMNT between 2013 and 2014, is in line for his first appearance in 10 years.
The roster also features two uncapped players, with goalkeeper Andres Diaz and forward Sasha Karlov looking to earn their first USBMNT appearances this month.
Goalkeepers (2): Austin Collier* (Virginia Beach, Va.; 12/1), Andres Diaz (Santa Cruz, Calif.; 0/0)
Defenders (3): Antonio Chavez* (Oceanside, Calif.; 38/7), Nico Perea* (Hollywood, Fla.; 38/19), Jason Santos (Cardiff by the Sea, Calif.; 62/20)
Midfielders (3): Tanner Akol* (Santa Cruz, Calif.; 27/12), David Mondragon (Santa Cruz, Calif.; 36/16), Cody Valcarcel* (Santa Cruz, Calif.; 24/6)
Forwards (4): Alvaro Franco (Miami, Fla.; 12/4), Andres Navas* (Miami, Fla.;19/6), Sasha Karlov (Suffolk, Va.; 0/0), Mikel Palmerin (Fallbrook, Calif.; 6/0)
* Part of 2024 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup squad
The USBMNT has history with all three of this month’s opponents. The USA is 0-2 all-time against Switzerland, dropping a 10-6 decision in a friendly match on Aug. 21, 2016, in Spiez, Switzerland, before falling 8-6 at the 2019 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Asuncion, Paraguay. Returning defender Jason Santos scored one of the goals in that match.
The USBMNT is 5-8 all-time against El Salvador, but has been victorious in each of the last two meetings against Los Cuscatlecos, with both wins coming last year. The USA used a hat trick from Alessandro Canale, and a goal from Nico Perea to earn a 4-2 win at the ANOC World Beach Games Qualifiers on April 8, 2023. Perea struck again a month later, along with a brace from Nick Perera and a goal from Gabe Silveria in a 5-2 semifinal win at the 2023 Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship, a result that officially clinched qualification to the 2024 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.
The USA and Morocco met most recently, with the USBMNT dropping a 4-1 decision in the finale on Jan. 14, 2024, at the Maranhão International Cup in Brazil. The USA is 0-2 against the African nation, having previously lost 7-3 at the 2014 Intercontinental Cup in Dubai, UAE.
Along with serving as the USBMNT’s Goalkeeping Coach since 2022, Carry currently works as the Goalkeeping Program Director with Charlotte Soccer Academy. He previously served in various roles for the Football Association of Ireland, including work as a goalkeeping coach with both men’s and women’s youth national teams as well as Ireland’s Deaf National Team. Prior to his work with the FAI, he also worked with the Scottish Football Association as a coaching educator and goalkeeping coach with the U-19 Women’s National Team.
A native of Ireland, Carry has worked in the United States since 2011, serving as an assistant coach for Central Michigan University Women’s Team from 2011-2013, and coached for the University of Kentucky Women’s Team for eight years, including as head coach from 2016-2021.
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