Hoban Named to U.S. Under-18 Training Roster
The El Paso-born Locomotive FC defender is one of 20 players called up for a camp in Portugal.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Soccer
The U.S. Under-18 Men's National Team named 17-year-old Kenneth Hoban, a defender for Locomotive FC, to its 20-player training roster on Monday. Hoban will travel to Santarém, Portugal for training camp from November 9-18.
Why it matters
The selection puts a young El Paso player on the national youth development pipeline and reflects the roster's wide club representation across MLS, Europe, Brazil and USL. For El Paso, it marks a local teenager advancing through the U.S. youth system.
The 20-player roster draws from 17 clubs, with 12 players from 10 MLS clubs and four from European clubs. Hoban signed with Locomotive FC at age 15 in 2024 and made his professional debut in 2025 against Las Vegas Lights FC.
The players
Kenneth Hoban
A 17-year-old defender from El Paso, Texas who plays for Locomotive FC and was named to the U.S. Under-18 Men's National Team training roster.
The details
Hoban, who is from El Paso, Texas, was one of 20 players named to the roster on Monday. The training camp in Santarém runs November 9-18.
Timeline
2024: Hoban signs with Locomotive FC at age 15.
2025: Hoban makes his professional debut against Las Vegas Lights FC.
November 9-18: International training camp in Santarém, Portugal.
Youth Pipeline
The roster's mix of MLS, European, Brazilian and USL clubs reflects how U.S. Soccer's youth national team pathway draws talent from both domestic and overseas academies. Hoban's selection from a USL club at age 17 shows that the pipeline extends beyond MLS academies.
Roster selection at this stage is a scouting step rather than a final squad decision, so players outside the 20 named may still earn spots later. Fans tracking youth prospects can follow Hoban's progress with Locomotive FC as a sign of his development path.
The takeaway
Hoban's rise from signing at 15 to a national youth camp by 17 shows how early club commitments can open doors to national team consideration. Readers following youth soccer can watch which clubs continue to supply players to the pipeline.
What happens next
The U.S. Under-18 training camp in Santarém, Portugal runs November 9-18, after which the final squad will be determined.
Further reading
For more on the local game, see El Paso Soccer coverage of youth development in the region.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KVIA.
