Ahead of the U.S. Open Cup two prospects get short-term contracts | OneFootball

With the U.S. Open Cup competition coming, Orlando City SC has added two players on short-term contracts.

Defender Zakaria Taifi and midfielder Riyon Tori join the first team on short-term contracts as Orlando City SC prepares for U.S. Open Cup competition. However, they were immediately available for MLS matches beginning April 19 with CF Montreal.

Taifi comes to the squad through the Orlando City Academy. He captained the team that won the U17 MLS NEXT Cup in 2021. Since then, he has started 21 matches in 42 appearances for Orlando City B. He scored one goal plus three assists.

Tori comes to the squad fresh from the 2024 MLS SuperDraft as the No. 83 overall pick. He signed an MLS NEXT Pro contract last February. Since then, he’s made three appearances for Orlando City B.

He delayed signing his contract so that he could finish his college career with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. There, he demonstrated outstanding stamina on the pitch. In his initial 2023 season, he was the only player to start all 18 games.

He finished third on the team in minutes with 1,328. He contributed a goal and two assists. He was selected First Team All-AAC and Second Team All-East Region.

In 2024, he started in seven of his 10 appearances.

Once he took the pitch for Orlando City B, he was injured during training. He missed the first eight games but made his debut in October.

Taifi has consistently drawn the attention of the scouts as a solid backline player.  Until age 10, he parceled equal enthusiasm into both soccer and jiu jitsu. By age 10, he had earned his green belt, but the fact that the Orlando City system had him practicing with them four days a week. Soccer won.

So Orlando City SC welcomes both Riyon Tori and Zakaria Taifi to the first team squad on short-term contracts. This won’t be the last look supporters get of these two major prospects.