While most of the U-16s are headed back to Dallas after qualifying for the Championship division of the Generation adidas Cup over the weekend in Houston, two players will head straight for Mexico City.

The Mexico U-18 national team have called up forward Luis Carrillo and goalkeeper Jose Mercado to train with the squad for the upcoming 2016 Aspire Tournament in Qatar. The homegrown players expressed their excitement after getting the call and are ready to pounce on the opportunity.

“I’m just really happy to have this opportunity,” Carrillo says. “I’m so happy to represent my club, myself and my family.”

The youngsters will have a chance to earn a spot on the final roster that will compete in the tournament once training ends. The team will train from Feb.15 through Feb. 25 before the final squad heads out for the tournament.

While Carrillo has never played for Mexico at the youth level like Mercado, he did just finish up a week with the FC Dallas first team in Arizona. Carrillo feels the experience made him better prepared and more confident about this upcoming opportunity.

“That was a very good experience for me,” Carrillo says. “I got to see how the older guys competed and see their habits. I feel like watching them play and train everyday taught me a lot.”

Having a familiar face around will be a welcomed sight for both players. The two teammates expressed that going together will make them feel more at ease and make the experience more special because they get to share it with someone they know.

“It feels good because you already know somebody,” Mercado says. “[Carrillo] has been putting a lot of work on the field too and it feels good to have a teammate there.”

Mercado has joined a line of homegrown FC Dallas goalies who have trained with the Mexico National team, a list that includes Richard Sanchez and starting goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez. The young goalie says he has looked up to those players and hope to follow them in a similar path.

“They’re my idols,” Mercado says. “It’s cool to see them [on the team] and then on the national team. I want to be like them.”

The homegrown players credit their experience with the FC Dallas Youth Academy as a major reason for helping them get this opportunity to train with the national squad.

“FC Dallas has provided me with all of my training and gave me the opportunity to build up,” Carrillo says. “They prepared me to be able to get ready for this opportunity with the Mexican national team. I’m excited for what’s coming up.”