Sporting KC II forward Mataeo Bunbury has been selected to the Canada U-20 Men’s National Team for a 13-day camp from April 10-22, with two youth international matches against Costa Rica on April 15 and April 21, in preparation for the 2022 Concacaf Men’s Under-20 Championship this summer.
Bunbury and the Canada U-20s were drawn into Group E for the 2022 Concacaf Under-20 Championship alongside the United States, Cuba and St. Kitts and Nevis. The top three teams from the group will advance to the Round of 16.
The 16-year-old forward and Sporting KC Academy product is looking to make his national team debut this April. Bunbury will be out to make a good impression as he and the other 24 members of this camp try to make the 20-man roster of the 2022 Concacaf Under-20 Championship this summer. This camp will mark the first men’s youth camp in over two years.
The 2022 Concacaf Under-20 Championship is a dual qualification tournament with spots in the FIFA U-20 World Cup Indonesia 2023 and the 2024 Olympics on the line. The tournament will run from June 18 to July 3 in Honduras with the top four teams qualifying for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, and the top two teams qualifying for the Olympics.
The Bunbury name has deep roots in Sporting Kansas City as Mataeo Bunbury’s father Alex Bunbury scored four goals and added four assists for the Kansas City Wizards from 1999-2000. His older brother Teal Bunbury was drafted by Sporting KC in 2010, recorded 24 goals and eight assists and helped the club win the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and 2013 MLS Cup.
Bunbury joined the Sporting KC Academy in 2020, appearing for the U-17s and U-19s before signing with SKC II on an academy contract in September 2021. Ahead of the 2022 MLS NEXT Pro season, Bunbury inked another academy contract with SKC II. Last Sunday, he scored his first professional goal in a 2-0 SKC II victory over Minnesota United FC 2.
SKC II is back in action this Sunday, April 10 at 6 p.m. CT when they welcome Houston Dynamo 2 to Rock Chalk Park for the club’s first home match of the season, and inaugural match in Lawrence, Kansas. Fans can purchase tickets at SeatGeek.com or tune into mlsnextpro.com to catch all of the action.
