Defiance forward Alec Diaz called into Puerto Rico National Team

Tacoma Defiance forward Alec Diaz has been called into the Puerto Rico National Team for camp this week ahead of its Concacaf Nations League match vs. Guatemala on Sept. 10. This is the first international call-up from any country that the 17-year-old forward has received. He is also eligible to play for the United States, although this would presumably cap-tie him as this is a FIFA-sanctioned match. Puerto Rico takes on Honduras in a friendly tonight at 6 p.m. PT.

Diaz made his debut for the Sounders’ USL squad last year when he was just 16 years old. He made five appearances, starting three matches and playing a total of 312 minutes with two goals and two assists. This season, however, he’s seen a significant boost in playing time. Diaz has appeared in 14 games for Tacoma this season, making seven starts. He has recorded one goal, one assist and six shots, including five on goal, in 658 minutes. Diaz was signed to the club’s USL roster on Oct. 2, 2018, following a campaign in which he tallied 36 goals in 38 games across all competitions in the Sounders Academy.