EL PASO, TEXAS– September 14, 2026 – El Paso Locomotive FC will once again be represented on the national stage as Academy defender Isaiah Soto Vargas has been called into the U.S. Under-15 Boys National Team for its September training camp at the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Fayetteville, Georgia.
Soto Vargas is one of just 24 players born in 2012 selected for the U-15 Boys National Team camp, which will run from September 10–17 and will be led by interim head coach Mutanda Kwesele.
The selection places Soto Vargas alongside some of the top young players in the country. The U-15 roster features players representing 22 MLS academies, with Soto Vargas standing as the lone representative from USL Championship club El Paso Locomotive FC.
For Soto Vargas, the call-up represents another significant step in his continued development and an opportunity to train in a U.S. Youth National Team environment at U.S. Soccer’s new national home.
For El Paso Locomotive, his selection also represents another important moment for the club’s player development pathway and its continued commitment to providing talented players from El Paso and the Borderland region with opportunities to compete and be recognized at the highest levels of the game.
“Isaiah’s story is special because we were able to provide him and his family with a clear development plan that allowed him to stay at home, close to his family, while continuing to be challenged, including opportunities to train with our U20s. At just 14 years old, he is passionate about the game, but what stands out most is how humble, grounded, and committed he is,” said Guilherme Soares, El Paso Locomotive ECNL/Academy Director.
“Seeing him earn this opportunity as the only player selected from outside the MLS academy ecosystem is very meaningful. It shows our local players that there is a clear pathway and strong visibility here. A lot of credit also goes to Isaiah’s coaches throughout the years for the care and commitment they have shown to his development, both on and off the field.”
The September camp will mark the sixth U.S. U-15 Boys National Team gathering of 2026 and the age group’s first training camp at the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center.
The camp is part of U.S. Soccer’s continued investment in its Youth National Team pathway, creating increased opportunities for young players to develop within national team environments and progress toward representing the United States at the highest levels.
Soto Vargas, listed by U.S. Soccer as a defender from Las Cruces, New Mexico, will represent El Paso Locomotive throughout the week as he competes alongside some of the country’s most highly regarded young players.
El Paso Locomotive FC congratulates Isaiah Soto Vargas on this tremendous achievement and wishes him the very best as he represents the Locomotive crest and the Borderland on the national stage.