PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico men's soccer goalkeeper, Hugo Sacco, has been called up to the U-21 Malta Squad for the upcoming UEFA Under-21 European Championships qualifying round, in an announcement by the Malta Football Association Friday morning.

Sacco joins the rest of the 30-player maiden squad chosen by Under-21 Maltese National Team Coach Ivan Woods. Malta U-21 squad have been placed in Group B, along with Belgium, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Scotland, and Spain. Malta will face Spain home to begin group play, Friday, Sept. 8th with kick-off set for 12:45 p.m. (MST). To close the international break, Malta will welcome Hungary to the Tony Bezzina Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 12th, starting at 12:45 p.m. (MST).
 
Yet to don the Green and Silver for ENMU, Sacco impressed this past summer at the U-19 European Championship joining fellow Greyhound teammate Daniel Letherby. Sacco played all three games in net for Malta, with the hosts bowing out of the tournament in the group stage.

MORE INFO ABOUT UEFA UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIPS
The UEFA Under-21 Championships are currently in the qualifying stages, leading to the finals held in 2025 in Slovakia. 52 teams have been drawn in nine groups: seven groups of six teams and two groups of five, as part of the group stage. The nine group winners will advance to the final directly along with the three best second place teams. The remaining second place teams will advance to a playoff, where three more teams will qualify for the finals.