Last spring, TIU men's soccer alum Zach Reget made his debut on the national stage representing the United States in the CONCACAF Futsal Championships in Guatemala. Now, four months after the confederation's quadrennial tournament, Reget will play on a larger stage at the 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Lithuania.
Earlier this year, Reget, a 2017 Trinity graduate, was selected as one of four players from the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) to make up the 14-man U.S. roster. The CONCACAF Championships, which serves as the confederation for teams in north and central America, as well as the Caribbean, was in May in Guatemala, one year after being postponed due to COVID-19. The top four teams, including the runners-up in the United States, champions Costa Rica, as well as Guatemala and Panama, all qualified for the next major indoor soccer tournament, the world cup.
"I am very excited to see Zach have the chance to represent the United States on such a big stage," said TIU head women's soccer coach Patrick Gilliam, who previously coached Reget on the men's team. "In addition to simply being a prestigious honor, I am most encouraged by the fact that his resolute determination to keep growing and developing as a player continues to pay off with both professional and international opportunities. He is certainly a testimony to the value of hard work and perseverance and I am looking forward to seeing what the future holds for him in the game."
During May's CONCACAF Championships in Guatemala, Reget scored two goals for the U.S. both coming in the single-elimination knockout stage of the tournament, including one against Guatemala in the semifinals where the United States advanced on penalty kicks. The other came in the final match against Costa Rica where the U.S. lost 3-2.
Reget played four seasons for TIU from 2013 to 2016, totaling 26 goals and 18 assists, achievements that rank fourth most all-time in program history in both categories. The Kenosha, Wisconsin native was a two-time All-Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) selection and three-time honoree by the North-Central region of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). Reget was named an All-American by the NCCAA during his junior year in 2015.
After graduating from Trinity, Reget signed with the MASL's St. Louis Ambush in February of 2018 and scored 22 goals with 11 assists to earn the league's Rookie of the Year award. Reget was traded to Florida Tropics SC in October 2019, where he has helped the Tropics win back-to-back MASL regular season titles.
For the 2021 World Cup, Team USA, who is making their first appearance in the tournament since 2008 and seeking their first title since 1992, has been placed into Group F, along with Argentina, Serbia, and Iran. The top two teams from each of the tournament's six groups will advance to the knockout stage, as will the top four teams that finish in third place in group play. The United States' game schedule is listed below, with all the games being broadcast on the FOX Sports website and app.
POOL PLAY
Tuesday, September 14 - United States vs. Argentina (8:00pm Local Time; 12:00pm CST)
Friday, September 17 - United States vs. Iran (6:00pm Local Time; 10:00am CST)
Monday, September 20 - United States vs. Serbia (8:00pm Local Time; 12:00pm CST)
Round of 16 - September 22-24
Quarterfinals - September 26-27
Semifinals - September 29-30
Third Place Match & Final - October 3
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Trinity International University is a comprehensive, national university affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America and located in Bannockburn, Illinois, 25 miles north of Chicago. TIU educates men and women to engage in God's redemptive work in the world by cultivating academic excellence, Christian faithfulness and lifelong learning.
