February 12, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Colorado Rapids News Release
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – Colorado Rapids forward Kimani Stewart-Baynes has been called up to represent Canada at the 2024 Concacaf Under-20 Championship Qualifiers, Canada Soccer announced today. The three-game group stage will take place in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, from Feb. 23-27, and serve as a qualifier to the 2024 Concacaf Under-20 Championship this summer.
Stewart-Baynes, 19, is currently in his first season with the Rapids after being selected fourth overall by the club in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft from the University of Maryland. During this preseason, Stewart-Baynes has made three appearances for the Rapids, scoring two goals and providing an assist.
During his collegiate career, Stewart-Baynes scored three goals and delivered seven assists as a freshman at the University of Maryland in his 14-game debut season. The Toronto, Ontario, native was dubbed Big Ten Freshman of the Year, a unanimous selection for the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and named to Top Drawer Soccer’s Freshman Best XI Second Team. Prior to his time with the Terrapins, Stewart-Baynes played for Vaughan Soccer Club, where he notched 17 goals in 14 matches for the U-19 team to win the League 1 U-19 championship. He also attended Father Henry Carr Catholic Secondary School, where he added nine goals and seven assists. Stewart-Baynes brings speed to the Rapids, recording an 11-second 100m dash as a junior in high school.
Canada has been drawn in Group D, where they will face Dominica, St. Vincent & The Grenadines and Trinidad & Tobago. Canada will gather in Trinidad & Tobago on Friday, Feb. 16 in preparation for the Qualifiers. The team will begin the group stage against Dominica on Friday, Feb. 23, followed by St. Vincent & The Grenadines on Sunday, Feb. 25, and concluding against Trinidad & Tobago on Tuesday, Feb. 27.
Following group stage play, teams that top each of the six groups will claim their spot at this summer’s 2024 Concacaf Under-20 Championship.
Canada is looking to secure their 25th appearance at the Concacaf Under-20 Championship having won the tournament twice (1986, 1996). At the 2022 edition of the bi-annual competition, Canada advanced from their group but were eliminated in the Round of 16 to Guatemala on penalties.
• Discuss this story on the Major League Soccer message board…
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at OurSports Central Major League Soccer MLS News…