Two Young Talents, Two International Stories: Yáñez and Coulombe Join La Roja

Zidane Yáñez and Thomas Coulombe are taking another step in their international careers.

Both young players have been invited to join Chile’s senior national team for its upcoming North American tour, giving them the opportunity to train alongside La Roja’s first team and work under head coach Nicolás Córdova.

The two players are not part of the 27-man senior squad as regular selections, but were officially included as three invited youngsters alongside Sporting Braga midfielder Jetzen López. The group will travel with Chile for a tour that includes matches against Canada, the United States and Mexico.

Yáñez is the more familiar name to many followers of American youth soccer.

Born in Union, New Jersey in 2008, the 18-year-old forward developed in the United States and signed a Homegrown contract with New York City FC in 2023.

His first international experience came with Puerto Rico U15, before he switched to Chile and represented La Roja at the U15 level. He later became part of Chile’s youth setup at the U17 level, while also receiving an opportunity with the United States U16 national team, giving him experience within three different international programs during his development.

Yáñez ultimately continued with Chile, becoming one of the country’s most promising young attacking players.

His performances with the Chile U17s included appearances at the South American U17 Championship and the 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup, where he scored against Canada.

Now, after representing Chile through several youth levels, Yáñez has been invited to train with the senior national team.

For a player who has experienced three different international environments during his youth career, the opportunity represents another important step in defining his future with La Roja.

Coulombe’s international story is also shaped by his family background.

Born in Spain, the 2007-born defender has a Chilean mother and an American father, giving him a connection to both Chile and the United States from birth.

His football development, however, has taken place primarily in Spain.

Coulombe came through the Espanyol academy, where he has developed as a left-footed defender capable of playing at left-back and across the defensive line.

That combination of backgrounds has given him more than one potential international pathway, but Coulombe has chosen to represent Chile.

He received his first call-up to the Chile U20 setup in 2026 and has continued to be part of the country’s youth national-team process.

Now, only months after entering the U20 environment, Coulombe has been invited to train with Chile’s senior team.

His story is therefore another example of La Roja identifying young talent developed abroad: a player born in Spain, eligible through his American father, connected to Chile through his mother and now progressing through the Chilean national-team pathway.

The stories of Yáñez and Coulombe are different, but they share an important connection.

Neither was born in Chile.

Yáñez was born in New Jersey and grew up within the American soccer system, while Coulombe was born in Barcelona and developed through Spanish football.

Yet both have chosen Chile.

Yáñez has already experienced Puerto Rico and United States youth setups before committing his international development to La Roja, while Coulombe has chosen the country of his mother’s heritage despite having an American father.

Now, both are being given the opportunity to experience the senior national-team environment.

For Chile, their stories also highlight the growing importance of identifying young players developed outside the country who can become part of the next generation of La Roja.