With the World Cup on the horizon and “the pool of players already identified,” the United States Men’s National Team is electing not to hold the annual “January camp,” which served as an onboarding process
for many developing talents. Instead, according to ESPN, “the next camp for prospects will be held in a little over 15 months,” with the next generation waiting a long time for their opportunity. Jonathan “Jonny” Shore could be one of the invitees to the future gathering, with his star just now beginning to rise in Major League Soccer. The 18-year-old New York City FC midfielder had a solid season with regular starts and hard-nosed defensive play.
Born in New York, Shore played with well-regarded local side Manhattan Kickers before joining the New York City FC academy in 2017. He quickly climbed the ranks, established himself as a goal scorer with 37 finishes in 21 matches, and made two appearances with the reserves during the 2022 MLS NEXT Pro season, earning praise for his consistency as an “exciting prospect with a range of qualities to be a versatile option and very smart player.” The club subsequently signed the then-15-year-old to a Homegrown Player contract through 2027 with an option for an additional campaign.
“Shore is a versatile and very [well-rounded] player,” wrote Marcus Chairez for Chasing a Cup in 2022. “He is an above average athlete with decent size and good short area quickness. He is very ball secure and can progress the ball both by dribbling and passing. He is a willing defender with good awareness and shows consistent ability to win back the ball. His final product is decent, but will get better.”
In 2023, Shore made 15 appearances for the second team and added goals in a 5-0 win over Inter Miami II and a 5-2 victory against Columbus Crew 2. The league named him to the roster for the MLS NEXT All-Star Game, which included his failure to convert during the penalty shootout. The “supremely technical midfielder” also continued to compete at the academy level in order to gain further match experience.
Last year, Shore appeared in 21 total matches with the reserves. He contributed eight goals as the team reached the playoffs, losing in the Round of 16. His senior debut came in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, playing the full 90 minutes in the first-round victory against FC Motown, followed by another two appearances in the competition, getting a chance “due to injuries” in the squad.
This season, Shore jumped past developmental expectations, was in the first-team plans from opening day, and made 33 appearances in all competitions, including several starts in MLS. With sharp movement and passing, the midfielder “became a mainstay” and led a youth movement in the squad. He contributed the first finish in July’s 4-3 victory over FC Dallas and helped NYCFC reach the playoffs, making two starts in the run to the Eastern Conference Final.
“I’m so proud of the kid,” said NYCFC manager Pascal Jansen. “From the first moment in preseason in January, he presented himself as a very promising talent and was very eager to learn as well. We worked together to make sure that he understood how I wanted him to play and how his personality and qualities could add something to this first team of our beautiful club… He brings quality to the game. He scored his first goal, which was only a matter of time, and I think there will be more to come from Jonny Shore because he’s a very promising player and talent.”
At the international level, Shore (whose mother is Mexican) has been a regular member of the United States program, beginning with call-ups in the Under-16 group, followed by Under-17 and Under-18 camps. His most recent duty came with the Under-19 team in October and November, appearing in friendlies against Belgium, Germany, Wales, and Japan. He should be eligible for the 2026 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship and 2027 U-20 World Cup, the latter of which is set to take place in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.
Standing at five feet, eight inches tall, Shore is an “intelligent, creative, and dynamic” six, holding midfielder, and winger who registers some of the highest tackling and touch numbers per 90 minutes in MLS, excelling at bringing down opposing dribblers in all areas of the field. He is noted for being “technically sublime with a high soccer IQ and relentless work rate,” providing “dynamic play” in the engine room with “two-way capabilities” and “crisp and progressive passing.” US Soccer Collective praises his tenacity and ability to “help his team through intelligent positioning, pressing intensity, and flashes of effectiveness in the final third,” displaying his versatility across the field.
“Shore is fun to watch,” penned Oliver Strand for Hudson River Blue. “Positionally he’s a No 6, a defensive midfielder tasked with recovering the ball when not in possession. But his movement is more like that of a playmaker, somebody who fluidly progresses the ball through by making arcing runs that keep the opposition off-balance. Shore has a flow. When he responds to a play he already knows where he’s going to go and what he’s going to do. That ability to literally run around opposing players is part of the reason why Shore is so effective despite his youth and his size… Not only is Shore two moves ahead of the opposition, he plays with a confidence that belies his years.”
Shore is fairly experienced for a teenage professional, with several years of reserve and first-team soccer under his belt. With his regular inclusion at the youth international level and solid defensive performances, he should be considered a likely contributor to the next U-20 World Cup. However, if his star continues to rise with a solid season for NYCFC in 2026, an invitation to the next domestic USMNT camp could be in the cards.
