TIJUANA Xolos midfielder Joe Corona is joining the U.S. U-23 team as it prepares for the CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying tournament later this month.
Training camp opened Wednesday in Nashville, where the 20-member team begins play on March 22 against Cuba.
U-23 coach Caleb Porter selected Corona, a 21-year-old Sweetwater High alum, in mid-December.
The U.S. team is in Group A, which also includes Canada, Cuba and El Salvador. Group B, which will play at the Home Depot Center in Carson, consists of Mexico, Honduras, Panama and Trinidad and Tobago.
The semifinals will be played March 31 and the final on April 2, both in in Kansas City, Kansas.
The best two teams of each group will advance to the semifinals, and the winners will play in the final. Each will be invited to play in the Summer Olympics in London.
"I know most of my fellow players. We have trained together," Corona said according to the Xolos' web site.
"Our group is hungry to go to London, but we have to go step by step," Corona continued. "We have to treat each game like it was a final."
Meanwhile, the Xolos are training in Tijuana for their next game in the Clausura season. It's a road match Saturday against Tigres in Monterrey. The Tigres are in fifth place in the general standings, while the Xolos are sixth place.
On Saturday, the Xolos tied powerhouse América 1-1 at Caliente Stadium.
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