Talent in soccer often goes unnoticed until players achieve something extraordinary or reach a certain level of playing maturity. So when William Cole Campbell made his Borussia Dortmund debut at just 18 years old, the world quickly took notice for the German club has a reputation for producing world-class talent from their academies. Now, Campbell, just beginning his professional journey, has set his sights on the USMNT. 

There has already been talk of Cole Campbell being the next generation for the USMNT, without having made a senior appearance. Hailing from a soccer-loving family, Campbell’s journey began in the chilly fields of Iceland, where he played for Fimleikafélag Hafnarfjarðar before joining Dortmund. Having already impressed with his skills at such a young age, the forward hopes that head coach Mauricio Pochettino will also take notice. 

“No, not yet, I haven’t spoken to him, I am just trying to work hard, and hopefully get called up to my first men’s national team cap and yeah you know, I am looking forward to getting to play for him in the future hopefully, and I am very excited,” said Campbell on CBS’s ‘Morning Footy’ show. 

The 18-year-old also reflects on how monumental this year has been for him, especially transitioning from youth teams to the senior squad amid the intense competition. His rise mirrors that of USMNT skipper, Christian Pulisic, who also began his career at Signal Iduna Park. Let’s hope that it follows a similar trajectory to the AC Milan player. 

Campbell made his debut for Borussia Dortmund in October, this year and has already played in the Champions League. Born in Houston, Texas, he had the opportunity to represent either the United States or Iceland, through his mother, Rakel Karvelsson, a former Iceland international. Campbell played for both the youth camps before ultimately picking the Stars and Stripes. However, he’s not the only one with dual nationalities awaiting a call-up. 

“I want to prove myself” – Diego Luna 

Real Salt Lake player, Diego Luna once turned down the opportunity to be an alternate for the United States men’s Olympic Squad. Now he’s hoping for a call-up from either Pochettino or from across the border, as he’s also eligible to represent Mexico. Looking at the numbers, it’s surprising that Luna has not been called up by either camp. 

The 21-year-old got 8 goals and 12 assists in the regular MLS season, making him the second-ever player to get 20 goal contributions before turning 21 in league history. Given that there are 2 more years before the World Cup takes place at home, one wonders how many more wonderkids will rise through the ranks. 

For now, Pochettino aims to win the United States their fourth-ever CONCACAF Nations League. With plenty of options to pick from, the Argentine-coach will have a tough time deciding the Starting XI when the International break ends. Will Campbell or Luna make it to the roster? Only time will tell.