Real Salt Lake Pipeline Creates International Opportunities for Seven Players

HERRIMAN, Utah (Friday, March 20, 2025) - The Real Salt Lake pipeline proudly announces the opportunity for seven members of the Club’s developmental pathway who will represent their respective countries throughout the March FIFA international window. 

The 2026 leading scorer for RSL is none other than another 18-year-old Academy sensation, Aiden Hezarkhani, who now books his ticket to Alicante, Spain, as a member of United States Youth National Team U19s, under the guidance of Head Coach Gonzalo Segares. As part of the week-long camp, the States will take on a pair of European sides, first facing Wales on March 28 and an opponent to be announced at a later date on March 31.

Hezarkhani has started every match for 3W-1L-0T Real Salt Lake thus far, filling in for USA superstar Diego Luna, who missed the first three matches of the 2026 campaign due to a minor knee injury. Making the most of his sudden opportunity, Hezarkhani logged back-to-back matches with goals on Feb. 28 at home against Seattle and on March 7 at Atlanta to spark RSL’s current three-match winning streak. 

Trinidadian DF Kobi Henry who was originally scheduled to make a full return from injury to help his Caribbean nation face Venezuela on March 27 in its lone friendly of the window has now been moved to questionable status after an adductor injury in Wednesday’s training session. Making his senior team debut for the SocaWarriors on Sept. 5, 2025, against Curacao, Henry started and played the full 90 minutes in each of his six international contests against fellow CONCACAF nations, scoring twice - his debut goal coming in his third-ever game, a 3-0 win over Bermuda, also finding the back of the net in a 2-2 draw on Nov. 16, once again versus Bermuda.

The RSL first team-contracted duo composed of wunderkind Luca Moisa and Gio Villa have been called into coach Jeremy Hall’s United States Youth National Team U18 roster to compete in the 29th annual Lisbon International Tournament. The Stars and Stripes will take on Iceland on March 26, Morocco on March 28, and Portugal on March 31.

Taking advantage of visa delays and injuries throughout the RSL midfield this year was Academy product Moisa, who broke into the starting XI late in the Claret-and-Cobalt's preseason. Moisa logged three consecutive starts to kick off the 2026 campaign, notching an assist in his first MLS home match, a 2-1 win over Seattle on Feb. 28. Villa has played a big role in the MLS NEXT Pro Real Monarchs’ unbeaten start to the year, logging two full 90-minute shifts in 2-2 (4:3) and 5-0 results over North Texas SC and Sporting KC II. 

Rounding out the MLS-contracted Utah-based players appearing for Club-and-Country is FW Antonio Riquelme, representing Chile and participating in two U20 friendlies against Peru. La Roja will face off against its COMNEBOL rival on March 29 and March 31.

Riquelme has enjoyed a hot start to the 2026 campaign, appearing in all three Monarchs matches, scoring twice while logging 185 minutes, tied with Marcos Zambrano and Lineker Rodrigues for the early-season Golden Boot lead.

Monarchs Captain Gio Calderón will report to Puerto Rico Men’s National Team camp this window, the centerback leading El Huracán Azul as it hosts Guam on March 25. This is Calderón’s first call up this calendar year, last appearing on October 13, an international friendly against Argentina at Soldier Field in Chicago.

RSL Academy U18 Goalkeeper Konstantinos Kyriazis will participate in the second round of the UEFA European U17 championship, representing Greece, which will open the tournament facing off against the hosts Montenegro on March 25, prior to facing Sweden on March 28 and closing against Norway on March 31. Kyriazis has received back-to-back call-ups this calendar year. 

The Real Salt Lake pipeline remains in Club action this weekend as RSL travels to Southern California to take on San Diego FC in a Sunday Night Soccer showdown, with kickoff scheduled for 5:00 pm MT on March 22. Real Monarchs will host Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 at Zions Bank Stadium earlier the same day, kicking off at 1:00 pm MT, while the RSL Academy teams will face San Jose Earthquakes Academy on Saturday, March 21.