The Reyna Soccer Dynasty Grows: Gio and Claudio Welcome a New Family Star to U.S. Soccer

The Reyna family's connection to the U.S. national team is extending well beyond USMNT icon Claudio and his son Gio. Seventeen-year-old Carolina Reyna is set to represent the Stars and Stripes on the global stage very soon.

Carolina earned a spot in Ciara Crinion's roster for the 2026 U-17 Women's World Cup, where the U.S. is aiming to claim its first-ever title this fall. The squad will face Samoa, Kenya, and China PR in Group E.

For Carolina, the moment carries a deeply personal significance. At just 10 years old, she watched her older brother Gio compete for the U.S. at the 2019 U-17 World Cup in Brazil. Now it's her turn to carve out her own legacy at the tournament—and make a bit of history along the way.

Carolina and Gio have become the first-ever brother-sister pair to represent the United States at the U-17 World Cup. Carolina will be hoping to go further than her brother did, as the men's U-17 squad was eliminated in the group stage seven years ago.

The pressure is on Carolina to both contribute meaningfully and live up to the family name on her back. But she's no stranger to expectations. The teenager, who has worn the Stars and Stripes from the U-15 to U-17 levels, claimed the Golden Boot at the 2024 Concacaf Girls' U-15 Championship.

She has also already committed to play college soccer at the University of North Carolina in 2027, following the path of her mother Danielle, who excelled for the Tar Heels before going on to earn six caps with the senior U.S. women's national team.

The road ahead is clear for Carolina, and there's no better stage to announce herself to the world than at the tournament in Morocco.

Carolina Basking in a 'Once in a Lifetime' Experience

While most teenagers her age are preoccupied with schoolwork and college applications, Carolina's mind is fixed on a women's World Cup. Even at the youth level, the tournament carries enormous weight, particularly for players hoping to catch the eye of USWNT head coach Emma Hayes.

Add in Carolina's family background, and an extraordinary, one-of-a-kind adventure awaits.

"It's an incredible honor to be able to represent the United States and for me and my teammates to be able to compete against the best teams in the world," the midfielder told FIFA. "We know that it will be a once in a lifetime experience for all of us.

"It's super incredible to be able to follow in my dad and brother's World Cup path for the U.S. and to be the first-ever brother-sister duo to be able to compete at a U-17 World Cup is also super incredible," Carolina added.

When asked what she's most excited about, Carolina embraced the full scope of what lies ahead for her and her teammates. "On the field, I am looking forward to competing against countries we have never played before, give everything for our team and have a strong successful tournament," she said.

"Off the field, it's going to be amazing to experience a beautiful country like Morocco with my teammates and coaches and the rest of our staff there."

U.S. U-17 Women's World Cup Schedule

Carolina Takes the Ultimate Inspiration From Gio

It's a rare advantage for Carolina to have a brother so close who has navigated all the highs and lows of representing the U.S. Gio went from being a prodigy to a peripheral figure and back to a regular starter for the USMNT, all while Carolina was rising through the women's youth ranks.

Following a very public controversy involving the Reyna family and former USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter, Gio fell out of favor with the national team while his club career also struggled. New head coach Mauricio Pochettino restored his faith in the 23-year-old, however, bringing him to the 2026 World Cup, where Gio scored a stunning trivela goal in a 4–1 victory over Paraguay.

"Being able to experience watching him play at a World Cup this summer and at his U-17 World Cup in person, it's super cool to have that role model so close to me," Carolina said, "and learning how much hard work and dedication it takes to reach the highest level and to continue to develop even at the highest level."

Although the 2026 World Cup ended in a disappointing round of 16 defeat to Belgium, the outlook remains promising for the USMNT, with Gio's resurgence playing a key part in the team's trajectory. The American, who joined French club Strasbourg this summer, started all four of the Stars and Stripes' fall friendlies and registered two assists across four convincing victories.

With the September-October international break now firmly behind them, the Reyna family can turn their full attention to Carolina and the U.S. women's campaign in Morocco.