MLS Next Cup Texas Team Preview: FC Dallas U17

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p id="block-620b6a9e-c4d4-4a8f-9b44-6bbee92730fa">The culminating event of the 2025-2026 MLS Next season is coming up shortly, as the MLS Next Cup is set to take place at the Regional Athletics Complex in Salt Lake City, Utah from May 23-31.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p id="block-483e7add-75e1-4b05-a213-86ca6370602a">The playoffs will reunite the best teams from the regular season, with 32 sides that qualified either via the MLS Next Flex event or league play in the Homegrown Division competing in a single elimination format in Utah.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p id="block-d2161841-3dc6-41f6-9bcc-28f383300632">Fifteen teams from the state of Texas will be in contention for the titles after achieving significant results in their seasons. We're now previewing each of them:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] U17</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>How did they qualify?</strong> [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] benefited from the homefield advantage to win their group in the MLS Next Flex event in Frisco and qualify. They came out on top in Group F after going down to Sacramento Republic 2-0 and beating the Chicago Fire 3-1 and Seacoast United 4-2.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What is their squad like?</strong> [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] have [player_tooltip player_id='148177' first='Saul' last='Rios'] and Juan Carrera as the main options in goal. Kaleb Panozzo, [player_tooltip player_id='148175' first='Zac' last='Fumtim'], [player_tooltip player_id='338095' first='Ninor' last='Olu'] and [player_tooltip player_id='333815' first='Pietro' last='Orlandelli'] are the outside backs, while [player_tooltip player_id='148810' first='Mark' last='Drygas'], [player_tooltip player_id='148231' first='Ahmad' last='Odom'], Dom Saul and [player_tooltip player_id='148179' first='Anderson' last='Grimm'] appear in central defense. Pedro Dias, [player_tooltip player_id='341786' first='Kyle' last='Velazquez'], Sebastian Aragundi, Erick Vargas and [player_tooltip player_id='280130' first='Alex' last='Soria'] split time in central midfield. The attack has [player_tooltip player_id='338122' first='Diego' last='Echevarria'], [player_tooltip player_id='148224' first='Trey' last='Glosson'], [player_tooltip player_id='338093' first='Austin' last='Chukwu'], [player_tooltip player_id='286814' first='Luke' last='Martey'] and [player_tooltip player_id='349092' first='Angelo' last='Caiafa Barrios'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Who do they play in the first round of the playoffs?</strong> Missouri's St. Louis City SC, on May 24, at 10:15 AM MT.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["148175"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a0b2e24b85cd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Fumtim plays as an outside back and a winger for [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas']. He first emerged as an attacking player, but was then moved down the field and now appears more often at the right back spot. On either spot, Fumtim stands out for his pace and offensive skills, which allow him to beat opponents off the dribble and make strong runs on and off the ball in the attacking half. He uses his physicality to shut opponents down defensively and shows great effort to dispossess them, while also doing well with his positioning.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj0kBB5qhHI","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj0kBB5qhHI </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["333815"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a0b2e24b8682"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Orlandelli is a wide player who can be used as an outside back or in the midfield. Despite being right-footed, he uses both feet very well and more often plays on the left side for [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'], either in the backline or in the team's second line. Orlandelli is extremely technical and does a good job of beating opponents off the dribble and showing excellent vision and distribution. He has good intensity to run the field up and down and appears well on both sides of the ball, handling his own on defense and offering solid support to the attack, even getting into the box to finish chances.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":333503,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/10/2J4A0061_81e261.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-333503" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["349092"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a0b2e24b8702"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Caiafa Barrios plays as a striker for [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas']. Despite playing one age group up with the U17s, he earned a starting spot in the team throughout the season. Caiafa Barrios is a lethal finisher who knows his way inside the penalty box, consistently gets into good spots, and is physical enough to handle physical duels against older players. The forward has good quality on the ball, too, and gets to impact the game when he drops to get involved in the team's playmaking.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":353860,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/03/2J4A0188_f4b1af.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-353860" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->