Johann Ortiz is taking his game to the international stage. The Sporting Kansas City II midfielder has been called into El Salvador’s U-20 National Team for the 2026 Concacaf U-20 Championship, held in Puebla and Mexico City.
The tournament carries real stakes for the players involved. Reaching the semifinals books a spot in the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, and the eventual champion also earns a place at the 2028 Summer Olympics. Games air on FS2, Fox Soccer Plus, and FoxSports.com.
El Salvador landed in Group A alongside the United States, Cuba, and Haiti. Their three group matches run at Estadio Universitario BUAP in Puebla:
- vs. Cuba — July 25, 4:00 p.m. CT
- vs. United States — July 28, 9:00 p.m. CT
- vs. Haiti — July 31, 4:00 p.m. CT
The top two teams from each of the three groups, plus the two best third-place finishers, move on to the quarterfinals on Aug. 4-5. The semifinals follow on Aug. 7, with the final set for Aug. 9.
A Homegrown KC Product
Ortiz is one of Sporting’s own. He joined the SKC Academy back in 2018 and worked his way up from the U-12 level through the U-19s, where he helped the group win the 2023 UPSL Oklahoma-Arkansas regular season title and reached three MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs along the way. The Sporting Arkansas alum became a midfield centerpiece in 2024, when his side reached the GA Cup and the MLS NEXT Cup Playoff Quarterfinals.
He signed his first professional contract with SKC II in March after making 11 amateur appearances in 2024. In his first pro season, Ortiz started 12 of 26 games, scored once, logged more than 1,000 minutes, and led the team with four assists. He’s carried that form into this year, starting nine of 15 appearances with two goals and two assists.
Ortiz has been in Mexico with El Salvador since July 14, already featuring in friendlies against Tlaxcala FC and CF Pachuca, with a final tune-up against Real Tlaxcala FC on Tuesday. He’ll rejoin SKC II once El Salvador’s run ends, which means he won’t be available for the team’s home match against Houston Dynamo 2 on July 31.
