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SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) — A young Concho Valley soccer athlete takes his talents overseas this summer.
As the world gears up for a jam-packed summer of soccer in 2026, one San Angelo athlete will take his young talents to the next level. His name is Kirin Kirts, a fifth grade student at Glenmore Elementary School and 11-year-old soccer prodigy. Kirts plays locally for the San Angelo Elite club, as well as Outkast FC in Brownwood, Texas. According to his mother Ciera, Kirin is living his dream.
“It makes me happy,” Ciera Kirts said. “We’ve told him that as long as [Kirin] works for it and he wants it, we will make sure that we’ll do whatever we can to make sure that he lets his dreams live.”
Kirin already has quite an extensive resume at his young age. So far in 2026, he has guided San Angelo Elite to a gold division championship in Arlington, Texas, where he scored the game-winning goal. He also led Outkast FC to the Next Gen Cup victory in Dallas. But Kirin’s favorite part of the sport isn’t his accolades. Instead, it’s defined by the people with whom he shares the field.
“My teammates [are my favorite part of the sport],” Kirin Kirts said. I get to hang out with them and I get to have fun with them.”
Beginning July 22, Kirin will represent Team USA in Limerick, Ireland at a four-day international tournament. He will compete against nations from all over the world, primarily Europe. Kirin is one of four athletes selected from the state of Texas, and his talent caught the eyes of coaches overseas.
“There were hundreds of kids that tried out and [Kirin] was just one of the lucky ones that was chosen to go represent team USA,” Ciera Kirts said.
Ciera couldn’t be prouder of her son’s accomplishments, which all stem from hard work. Kirin excels in academics off the field, particularly math. In fact, he won his school’s “Math 24 Competition,” a challenge where students must creatively solve arithmetic equations using only a set of four random numbers, where the solution must equal 24. But this summer, there’s only one goal on his mind as he prepares for Ireland.
“[My goal is] to compete against better kids,” Kirin Kirts said.
Kirin began playing soccer at age three, and he one day hopes to represent Team USA on the world’s largest stage at the FIFA World Cup. In 2026, Kirin will cheer on his favorite player who he’s admired for years.
“[I admire Cristiano] Ronaldo,” Kirin Kirts said. [Ronaldo] can shoot better [than his rival Lionel Messi] and pass a lot.”
Ciera credits one of Kirin’s earliest coaches, not only for teaching him soccer skills, but the greater message of simply being a gentleman.
“[Kirin] got a new coach when he was four,” Ciera Kirts said. “[Kirin’s] coach’s name is Clayton Hubbard, and he’s taught [Kirin] a lot of technique and how to be a respectful young man on and off the field.”
Kirin’s upcoming tournament in Ireland is only the beginning of a promising career, which all started in the Concho Valley.
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