Kiano Falcao
.jpg) Falcao in 2023 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kiano Falcao Casamalhuapa | ||
| Date of birth | April 11, 2006 | ||
| Place of birth | Bakersfield, California, U.S. | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Fullback, Midfielder#Defending midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | FC Cincinnati | ||
| Number | 70 | ||
| International career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023–2023 | El Salvador U17 | 7 | |
| 2023–2024 | El Salvador U20 | 9 | |
Kiano Falcao Casamalhuapa (born April 11, 2006), also known as Kiano Falcao, is a footballer who plays as a left centerback for the academy team at FC Cincinnati.[1] Born in the United States, he is a youth international for El Salvador. Kiano Falcao holds multiple citizenships, including Salvadoran, American, Italian, and Colombian.
Club career
[edit]Falcao joined FC Cincinnati's Academy on February 8, 2021, after previously playing for Tampa Bay United. In his first season (2021/2022), he primarily played as a midfielder (#6) for FC Cincinnati's U17 team. During this period, he demonstrated remarkable consistency and importance to the team. Falcao participated in several prestigious youth tournaments, including the GA Cup Qualifier, GA Cup, MLSNext FLEX, and MLS Tournament and being involved in over 50 games for MLS League in which he started 85% of the games and rostered 95% of the games playing Midfield, Centerback and Left back. In the 2022/2023 season, Falcao transitioned to playing as a center back for the MLS Next League team, showcasing his versatility and adaptability on the field. During the winter break of the 2022/2023 season, Falcao traveled to Spain for a trial with Rayo Vallecano. He trained for several weeks with Rayo Vallecano's youth team and played in some friendly matches.[2] He also trained in Italy with teams such as U.S. Salernitana 1919 and Cosenza Calcio Primavera teams.
International career
[edit]Despite his multiple citizenships, Falcao chose to represent El Salvador at the international level. He began his international career with El Salvador's U17 team, debuting on October 17, 2022, under coach Juan Carlos Serrano. Falcao helped the El Salvador U17 National Team reach the quarterfinals in the 2023 CONCACAF U-17 Championship held in Antigua, Guatemala.[3] Falcao progressed to the U20 level, becoming a key player for the El Salvador national under-20 team, also known as the Azulita.[4][5] He was selected for the 2024 CONCACAF U-20 Championship squad by Spanish coach Juan Cortés. Cortés praised Falcao's versatility, stating, "He's a left-back and center-back, very good. He's still young but in this process they're going to help us a lot, they have very good qualities."[4] Cortés also noted that Falcao's Italian citizenship would not occupy a non-EU spot, potentially increasing his appeal to European clubs. During the 2024 CONCACAF U-20 Championship qualifying matches, Falcao played an important role in El Salvador's campaign, including a notable performance in the team's match against Guyana.[6]
2024 CONCACAF U-20 Championship
[edit]Kiano Falcao participated in the 2024 CONCACAF U-20 Championship held in Irapuato, Mexico. El Salvador was drawn into Group B alongside Honduras, Canada, and the Dominican Republic. The team started strong with a 1–0 victory against the Dominican Republic but subsequently lost to Honduras (4–1) and Canada (2–1). Despite Falcao's efforts, El Salvador finished third in the group with three points and a goal difference, which was insufficient to advance to the knockout stages.[7]
Playing style
[edit]Standing at 1.82 meters (6 ft 0 in), Falcao is known for his left-footedness, which is valuable in both defensive and midfield roles. This attribute enhances his passing ability and allows him to contribute effectively to building attacks from the back or controlling play in midfield. His versatility enables him to play multiple positions, providing tactical flexibility to his teams.
Personal life
[edit]Kiano Falcao holds citizenship in four countries: El Salvador, the United States (his country of birth), Italy, and Colombia. This diverse background potentially offers him international opportunities, but he has thus far committed to representing El Salvador in youth competitions.
References
[edit]- ^ "FC Cincinnati U19". FCCincinnati.com.
- ^ Lopesino, Juan (February 21, 2023). "El Rayo Vallecano prueba a otro Falcao: Kiano Casamalhuapa". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved February 26, 2024.
- ^ "Mexico v El Salvador Quarterfinals". CONCACAF. March 12, 2021.
- ^ a b Lopesino, Juan (February 14, 2024). "Rayo Vallecano y Adarve, protagonistas en El Salvador Sub-20". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved February 20, 2024.
- ^ Tovar, Diego (February 19, 2024). "Anuncian la nómina de la selección sub-20 de El Salvador para la clasificatoria al Premundial". El Gráfico.
- ^ "Mal día para la Selecta y empató con Guyana rumbo al Premundial Sub-20". Noticias de El Salvador (in Spanish). Retrieved February 27, 2024.
- ^ "2024 CONCACAF U-20 Championship Results". CONCACAF.