Marcelo Mendes Calls 15-Player U.S. Men’s Beach Soccer National Team Roster for Domestic Training Camp from January 12-18 in Fort Lauderdale
Mendes Will Guide First Beach MNT Camp as Team Kicks off 2027 World Cup Cycle
ATLANTA (Jan. 7, 2026) – Newly named U.S. Men’s Beach Soccer National Team head coach Marcelo Mendes has selected a 15-player roster for the squad’s domestic training camp from Jan. 12-18 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The six-day camp is the first under Mendes, who was announced last month as the first full-time Beach MNT head coach in the program’s 20-year history, and will kick off the cycle as the team aims to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.
"I am very pleased to have this first opportunity to connect with our players and staff,” Mendes said. “I am looking forward to this moment and am confident it will be a highly productive experience, marked by learning, motivation and full commitment from everyone involved. This represents the start of a new project and a new cycle for the U.S. Men’s Beach Soccer National Team, which naturally generates strong expectations on both sides. I am very motivated to begin this new chapter of my career within a highly professional environment, benefiting from the structure, support, and resources provided by U.S. Soccer. We have an intensive and productive week of work ahead."
This camp reflects the Federation’s commitment to the U.S. Way, by investing in resources, infrastructure, and comprehensive support for its Extended National Teams – including the Beach Soccer National Teams - to ensure they are fully prepared to compete and succeed on the world stage.
Mendes has selected a balanced roster, with all 15 players previously involved in prior Beach MNT camps. Seven return from the squad that took part in the 2025 Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship and nine overall have previous experience at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.
Returnees from last year’s World Cup qualifying tournament include Andres Navas (Miami, Fla.) and Gabe Silveira (San Francisco, Calif.), who were both finalists for 2025 Male Beach Soccer Player of the Year, as well as forward Alessandro Canale (Venice
Beach, Calif.), one of two Beach MNT players to reach 100 caps, as well as 2024 Male Beach Soccer Player of the Year Antonio Chavez (Oceanside, Calif.), along with veterans Tanner Akol (Santa Cruz, Calif.), goalkeeper Austin Collier (Virginia Beach, Va.) and Nico Perea (Hollywood, Fla.).
Meanwhile, World Cup-experienced players Nick Perera (Carlsbad, Calif.) and Fredo Dilbert (Davie, Fla.) also return to the fold. Perera, whose 114 career goals are the most in Beach MNT history, last took part in the team’s January training camp at the start of 2025, while Dilbert will make his first camp appearance since October 2023. A veteran of the 2023 Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship-winning side, Alvaro Franco (Miami, Fla.) also returns after last taking part in December 2024.
On the flip side, five players have five or fewer caps. Sasha Karlov (Suffolk, Va.) returns after making his Beach MNT debut at the 2024 El Salvador Cup, goalkeeper Andres Diaz (Santa Cruz, Calif.) and uncapped field player Justin Trout (Virginia Beach, Va.) were both part of last year’s January camp. Goalkeeper Brian Shushkovsky (Morganville, N.J.) makes his first camp appearance since January 2024, while Matthew Citron (San Diego, Calif.) is back with the Beach MNT for the first time since February 2023.
U.S. MEN’S BEACH SOCCER NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER (Club; Hometown - Caps/Goals):
Tanner Akol*^ - (Cruzn BSC; Santa Cruz, Calif.; 35/20)
Alessandro Canale*^ - (PP SC; Venice Beach, Calif.; 101/73)
Antonio Chavez*^ - (SoCal Legacy; Oceanside, Calif.; 49/13)
Matthew Citron – (SoCal Legacy; San Diego, Calif.; 0/0)
Austin Collier*^ - (BSVB; Chesapeake, Va.; 20/1) – GK
Andres Diaz - (Cruzn BSC; Santa Cruz, Calif.; 2/0) – GK
Fredo Dilbert* – (SoCal Legacy; Davie, Fla.; 23/3)
Alvaro Franco - (Unattached; Miami, Fla.; 17/6)
Sasha Karlov – (BSVB; Suffolk, Va.; 3/0)
Andres Navas*^ - (CF Playa Miami; Miami, Fla.; 30/11)
Nico Perea*^ - (CF Playa Miami; Hollywood, Fla.; 46/23)
Nick Perera* – (San Diego Sockers/MASL; Carlsbad, Calif.; 94/114)
Brian Shushkovsky – (Hollywood BSC; Morganville, N.J.; 4/0)
Gabe Silveira*^ – (Ocean Beach SC; San Francisco, Calif.; 65/49)
Justin Trout – (BSVB; Virginia Beach, Va.; 0/0)
* Previous FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup experience
^ Part of 2025 Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship Roster
About the U.S. Soccer Federation
Founded in 1913, U.S. Soccer has been the official governing body of the sport in the United States for more than 100 years. As U.S. Soccer looks toward the future amid an unprecedented moment of opportunity, it has aligned its efforts around five strategic pillars: Grow the game by increasing youth and adult participation and accessibility to the sport; Foster best playing environments through quality of referees and coaches, and commitment to participant safety; Develop winning teams through solidified pathways and success of professional leagues; Grow the soccer economy to fuel reinvestment by increasing membership, fandom and commercial success; and Create a world-class organization through revitalized structure and culture, best-in-class talent, progress in DEIB, and more. For more information, visit ussoccer.com/ourvision.