Of the millions of youth soccer players in the United States, only a select few will ever manage to sign a professional contract. Former Northwood junior Mohamed Sultan is on the verge of being one of them, having secured a spot on the Egyptian national under-17 team.
Sultan arrived in Orange County three and a half years ago, progressing quickly from SoCal Reds FC’s Elite Academy II team in his freshman year to the club’s Elite Academy team the next. The attacking midfielder now plays in the under-17 age group for both SoCal Reds FC’s MLS Next team and the Egyptian national team. Sultan’s commitment to soccer is reflected in his intense training regimen, which consists of six days a week of conditioning and on-ball technical practice completed across two daily sessions.
“My biggest influence is my dad because he worked hard for me. I want to fulfill my whole family’s dream by doing this,” Sultan said. “When my dad was young he wanted to be a soccer player and I want to make it for both him and myself.”
On Sept. 3, 2025, he gained the opportunity after a recommendation from his aunt—the manager of the Egyptian under-20 women’s national team—to play for the Egyptian under-17 team in a scrimmage against Saudi Arabia. He played 70 minutes as a central midfielder and scored a goal, helping the team win the game 3-1.
Sultan doubles as an attacking midfielder who is responsible for linking possessions and aims to move up the pitch, a role that demands both vision and technicaly precision. His playing style is inspired by Neymar, emphasizing both creativity and technical ability.
That approach translated into his 2025-26 Northwood season, where he scored five goals on 33 shots in seven varsity games. According to his teammates and coaches, Sultan is a positive influence and consistent leader who uplifts the team during training and games.
“When he loses the ball, he’s really focused on winning it back right away,” varsity boys soccer freshman Nicholas Gorokhovsky said. “He doesn’t really care about the mistake he made. He just puts it in the back of his head.”
Gorokhovsky recalled a match against Sage Hill School where Northwood fell behind and morale was low. During halftime, Sultan helped by encouraging the team to communicate, refocusing the group’s approach. Even though the team did not secure a victory, their performance significantly improved in the second half.
“He’s a big role model that a lot of kids on the frosh/sophomore and junior varsity teams look up to because of his admirable playing style,” Gorokhovsky said.
After his progression from the Elite Academy level to his current MLS Next team this semester, Sultan left high school soccer due to MLS Next’s development restrictions, which prohibit simultaneous participation in both high school and club team competition.
In March, after discussing it with his family, Sultan decided to take California’s high school exit exam and leave school early to pursue his dream of playing professional soccer. Coming from a household with a strong love for the sport, he said he values the opportunity to represent Egypt at the international level.
“I left school early to give more time to soccer, to wake up early and practice more,” Sultan said. “[I want] to get better and achieve more.”
Understanding that challenges lay ahead, Sultan remains motivated by his ambition and work ethic. To other aspiring players, he emphasizes the importance of self-belief and encourages them to work hard and stay confident in themselves no matter what others may think or say.
He now plans to dedicate his days to training, conditioning and sharpening his technical skills with the future goal of joining a competitive European club. He ultimately aims to play for Barcelona or Real Madrid and to compete in La Liga and the Union of European Football Associations Champions League.
While the road to his goals are long, Sultan has already done what most young players could dream of accomplishing: representing one’s country professionally.
