Joe Corona said he's "leaning toward the U.S. now."

He's the Xolos midfielder who was named Wednesday to the U.S. Under-23 team roster for an upcoming training camp in Germany. The U-23 team is slated to be the Olympic team for the United States in London next year.

And Corona, 21, a Sweetwater High alum, will have the chance to be a part of that squad if his international intrigue continues with the Americans.

Corona, whose father is from Mexico, was also part of Mexico's U-23 camp. He played in the final minutes of a friendly game in Chile but was not called to the final roster for the Pan American Games, in which Mexico won the Gold medal.

"I was looking forward to playing in the Pan American games but it didn't happen," Corona said. "That's why I always kept my mind open to playing for the U.S., in case they called."

Corona called his time with Mexico his "dream" as he grew up cheering for the Mexican national team while being raised in Tijuana and the South Bay.

But that dream didn't go so well with Corona making nothing more than a cameo appearance with Mexico's U-23 squad.

And now he's set his sights on the U.S. team.

"I didn't get the chance to show what I can do with Mexico. I am not happy in that aspect but I have to remain optimistic because things have turned out well."

Corona will take the opportunity that comes at what could be the right time. Club Tijuana Xoiloitzcuintles plays its last match of the Mexican league Sunday against Pumas in Mexico City. Corona said he planned to spend the off-season training on his own and preparing for the next tournament in early 2012.

The U.S. camp in Duisburg Germany will be the first for recently hired U.S. Under-23 coach Caleb Porter. He won't be there. He will remain at Akron through NCAA tournament games. U.S. Youth Technical Director Claudio Reyna will run the Olympic team.

Now Corona, who is also eligible to play for El Salvador, will wear a new national team jersey. He almost made it to the U.S. senior team this summer as part of former U.S. Coach Bob Bradley's squad that faced Mexico in an Aug. 10 friendly.

Bradley asked Corona to be on his roster. Corona said yes and the necessary paperwork was filed with the Xolos. But it didn't matter. Bradley was fired.

So, Corona went with Mexico.

It was a choice he said he learned plenty from. He said he has an idea of how things work with national teams and why they choose certain players. He is eligible to play for either team until he plays in an official FIFA match. If that is with the United States, which could be as early as the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament early next year, he won't be eligible to play for Mexico again.

"I don't know why they didn't choose me," Corona said about Mexico. "I don't worry about it. If they don't like that (the United States called) and I accepted, that's on them. I don't know what they'll think. Mexico has a lot of players they can look at. Maybe they will think about it again if I do well with the United States. Who knows?"

ivan.orozco@sandiegored.com