ORLANDO, Fla. – As the first signing in New York Red Bulls II history, and a key member of the U.S. U17 National Team headed to the World Cup in Chile, 2015 gave Tyler Adams a major platform to push his career forward.

Two years later, he is now part of the U.S. U20 squad that will kick off the CONCACAF U20 Championship this week with sights set on a place in the 2017 FIFA U20 World Cup this May. It serves as another chance for Adams to rise to the challenge that has presented itself.

With the mentality Adams brings to the field, his belief in what lies ahead has never been stronger.

“Everyone’s instilled confidence in me,” Adams said recently. “[Red Bulls Head Coach] Jesse [Marsch] personally has talked to me a lot and told me the specific role that I’ll be playing this year, and he thinks that I’ll be playing a big role, and coming to the U20s now and [U.S. Head Coach] Tab [Ramos] putting confidence in me to step right in and play a big part in helping the team to qualify, I feel ready to go.”