Atlantans who could feature in future World Cups

And the future looks good. Alpharetta’s Jack McInerney is only 17 but already is playing professionally for Philadelphia in MLS. He has been regularly featuring on the different levels of national teams.

Who else from the city could feature for the U.S. team in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, or in 2018 or 2022, perhaps in Atlanta? Here are a few to watch:

Bryan Dominguez

Age: 19

Hometown: Atlanta

Height, weight: 5-feet-5, 150 pounds

Position: Attacking midfielder

Pro team: Miami FC in the second division, a level below MLS.

Favorite team: America de Cali, Barcelona

Favorite player: Retired footballer Diego Maradona

National-team background: Currently on Under-20 team, he has played for the national teams for several years.

Born in Atlanta, he grew up in Cali, Colombia, where his parents are from, before he moved back to the United States and enrolled the U.S. Soccer Academy in Bradenton, Fla., in 2006. He played club soccer for the Concorde Fire before attending UC-Santa Barbara, where he played for one season before turning pro.

The U-20 World Cup will be held in his family’s native country in 2011.

"It is on the top of my list to make the World Cup team," Dominguez told the Web site yanksabroad.com. "There are times when I just think and dream of me being there in Colombia. My parents are from Colombia, and I have a lot of family there. I haven't been there for like six or seven years, but I still keep in touch with my family there. If I go, I would have a lot of people in the stands for me."

Holden Fender

Age: 16

Hometown: Marietta

High school, class: Walton, junior (currently enrolled at the U.S. Soccer Academy in Bradenton, Fla.)

Height, weight: 6-1 1/2, 170

Position: Left back

Club team: North Atlanta Soccer Association

Favorite team: Barcelona

Favorite player: Liverpool's Steven Gerrard

National-team background: Currently on the Under-17 team

“It's always been a dream since I was little to play in the World Cup. Being here [at the Academy] now is one of the best spots because we get scouted here. Sometimes we will play in front of pro teams. We've played four to five teams this year; that has helped me develop as a player.

“Keep giving everything I got. Do everything I can to stay in the national-team cycle. Probably best way for me to make the men's World Cup team eventually.

“It's not easy being away from home. I've got to push through. Ultimately there's nothing better. Our coach has done a good job of making this a pro environment. We're getting used to how it's going to be later in life. There's no messing around. We're all still having fun with it.”

Jordan McCrary

Age: 16

Hometown: Marietta

High school, class: Lassiter, senior

Height, weight: 5-8, 148

Position: Right back

Club team: Concorde Fire

Favorite team: Barcelona

Favorite player: Inter Milan's Maicon

National-team background: Currently on the Under-18 team

“My soccer dream is to play on the national team and be on the starting lineup of the World Cup team.

“I need to be able to be a little stronger, a little quicker when I'm on the ball and off the ball. Just being able to play the one-two touch balls when I need to.

“I hope I can make the U-20 World Cup coming soon.

“Hopefully seeing myself play MLS for years and getting better, improving, and going to Europe or somewhere else that has a higher quality of play.”

Jack McInerney

Age: 17

Hometown: Alpharetta

Height, weight: 5-9, 151

Position: Central midfield or forward

Pro team: Philadelphia Union

Favorite team: Arsenal

Favorite player: Manchester United's Wayne Rooney

National-team background: Currently on the Under-20 team

McInerney scored two goals for the U.S. team in the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup and wants to make a bigger impact in next summer's U-20 World Cup so that he can improve his chances of earning his first cap with the national team, as well as of one day playing in Europe.

"It's huge. You always want to stay in with the national team," McInerney told the Web site yanksabroad.com. "The World Cup is the biggest stage you can play on at that level. I want to stay with that group and be there for that."

Cameron Wilder

Age: 19

Hometown: Kennesaw

College, class: Kentucky, sophomore

Height, weight: 5-6, 140

Position: Right midfield or right back

Club team: GSA

Favorite team: Liverpool

Favorite player: Manchester City's Shaun Wright-Phillips

National-team background: Attended camps for the U-15 and U-18 teams

“Always been a dream [to play for the United States] ever since I was little. It's a lot of hard work. Maybe one day I will be there if I keep at it.

“A lot of it is mentality. I want to get stronger on my left foot. Concentration, faster, stronger. I can always get better. Keep improving, stay fit, run every day.”

Andrew Wolverton

Age: 17

Hometown: Snellville

High school, class: St. Pius, senior

Height, weight: 6-4, 195

Position: Goalkeeper

Club team: Concorde Fire

Favorite team: Manchester United

Favorite player: Manchester United's Edwin Van der Sar

National-team background: Recently called up to the U-18 Team

“When I was younger I always dreamed of this. Now it's to the point I can actually do this. It's more reality.

“Getting used to the level in the sense of it's a big jump from high school to club and from club to national team. The level of soccer, the speed of the game, the ability of the players is so different. Players who have residency have more exposure, they are more accustomed to it. Getting accustomed to the speed of the play is probably the biggest thing.

“My ultimate goal is to go overseas and play in Europe. Starting in MLS would be perfectly fine with me. Good thing about goalkeepers, I can play until I’m 40. I can play for a long time. Even if I’m not over there right away, it's OK with me.”

Others to watch: Goalkeeper Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire/Lilburn), defender Steven Kinney (Chicago Fire/Norcross), midfielder Casey Osborne (unsigned/Avondale Estates), goalkeeper Casey Cropper (Ipswich Town/Athens).