Barcelona Product Diego Kochen Pushing for First USMNT Cap at Camp

The 20-year-old goalkeeper, on loan at Danish club Lyngby, is competing among four keepers at the U.S. camp ahead of friendlies against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada.

Goalkeeper Diego Kochen is in the U.S. men's national team camp near Atlanta chasing the first senior cap of his career. The 20-year-old Miami native came up through Barcelona's La Masia academy alongside stars Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi, and said he messaged both to congratulate them after Spain's World Cup triumph this summer.

Kochen spent two seasons with Barcelona's B team in Spain's lower divisions and frequently sat on the bench for the senior squad without breaking into competitive matches. He is now playing regularly on loan at Lyngby, which returned to the Danish top division this season, and has started all nine of the club's league games. Lyngby holds an option to make the move permanent next summer.

He is one of four goalkeepers in the U.S. camp, a group that also includes World Cup starter Matt Freese, Chris Brady and first-time call-up Brian Schwake. Kochen, who first joined a senior camp two years ago and attended World Cup training in May as a non-roster participant, said he was surprised by the invitation and aims to learn and compete for a spot.

The camp runs 16 days and includes friendlies against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada, giving Kochen a possible path to his debut as the U.S. builds toward the 2028 Olympics and the 2030 World Cup.