The U.S. Under-20 men’s national team roster for the upcoming World Cup has been decided.
Cole Campbell, Diego Kochen, and Niko Tsakiris headline Marko Mitrovic’s 21-player roster for the upcoming competition, U.S. Soccer announced Friday. The tournament will run from September 27-October 19 in Chile.
Benfica defender Josh Wynder, Seattle Sounders defender Reed Baker-Whiting, and Real Salt Lake forward Zavier Gozo were also part of the selections made by Mitrovic. Nashville SC’s Chris Applewhite and the Philadelphia Union’s Edward Davis will also join the team as training players for the week leading up to the tournament.
The USMNT U-20’s will begin Group E play on Sept. 29 against New Caledonia before taking on France on Oct. 2 and South Africa on Oct. 5. All three of their matches will be played at Estadio El Teniente in Rancagua.
The Americans have had recent success at the U-20 World Cup, reaching the quarterfinals of the last four editions and qualifying for the overall tournament in each of the past six tries.
“We are very excited about the group of players that will represent the United States at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile,” said Mitrović. “Wearing your country’s crest in a World Cup is a special moment for every player and as a Federation, we’re proud that each player has developed through our American soccer pathway. We are grateful to the clubs that released their players in support of our mission and now our goal is to make our country proud.”
Here is a closer look at the full USMNT U-20 roster:
GOALKEEPERS: Adam Beaudry (Colorado Rapids; Castle Pines, Colo.; 7/0), Duran Ferree (San Diego FC; San Diego, Calif.; 1/0), Diego Kochen (FC Barcelona/ESP; Miramar, Fla.; 5/0) .
DEFENDERS (7): Reed Baker-Whiting (Seattle Sounders; Seattle, Wash.; 7/0), Luca Bombino (San Diego FC; Saugus, Calif.; 9/0), Noah Cobb (Colorado Rapids; Chattanooga, Tenn.; 13/0), Ethan Kohler (SC Verl/GER; Campbell, Calif.; 12/1), Nolan Norris (FC Dallas; Fort Worth, Texas; 16/0), Francis Westfield (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.; 7/0), Joshua Wynder (Benfica/POR; Louisville, Ky.; 11/1) .
MIDFIELDERS: Matthew Corcoran (Nashville SC; Dallas, Texas; 5/1), Benjamin Cremaschi (Parma/ITA; Key Biscayne, Fla.; 9/2), Taha Habroune (Columbus Crew; Columbus, Ohio; 14/2), Brooklyn Raines (Houston Dynamo; Chicago, Ill.; 15/1), Pedro Soma (San Diego FC; Coconut Creek, Fla.; 15/2), Niko Tsakiris (San Jose Earthquakes; Saratoga, Calif.; 23/8).
FORWARDS: Luke Brennan (Atlanta United; Atlanta, Ga.; 10/2), Cole Campbell (Borussia Dortmund/GER; Peachtree City, Ga.; 3/0), Zavier Gozo (Real Salt Lake City; Eagle Mountain, Utah; 11/2), Peyton Miller (New England Revolution; Unionville, Conn.; 6/1), Marcos Zambrano (Real Salt Lake; Gladwyne, Pa.; 13/6).
Can someone explain Keyrol Figueroa and Nimfasha Berchimas not getting selected?
Injuries for Birchimas. Missed first half of the season, I think he’s injured again. Most of the guys on the roster play regular MLS minutes Nimfasha hasn’t gotten that yet. Still eligible for next U20 WC
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Figueroa is a bit different he has had some minor injuries. But mostly just hasn’t done much either for Liverpool or the US since Concacaf U17 Championship. 2g 1a for US in 17 matches since that tournament U17, U19, and U20 combined. Last two seasons for Liverpool 24 appearances for U21/U19s 2g 2a.
Yeah Figueroa has kind of stop progressing.
Im assuming Berchimas will be with the u17’s. He got 29 minutes of play for Crown FC on Sep. 20th.
Believe or not I have fifa 2016 deluxe edition with Alex Morgan and and Lionel Messi on front for ps3. I created Keyrol Figeroa in game 😆, I thought he was going to have a career same level as Howard and McBride.
Always hard to tell about age groups. See how they fair in the next few years as pros. Really like Baker-Whitting and Bombino. GK’s are a strong corps. Some talent in CM. Really like Rains. And the attackers have talent. This team might have a shot to male it to the Semis. Many of the European teams are getting told no by clubs. And this team has been beating quite a few of the big nations in Friendlies.
Can’t forget Julian Eyestone is in this age group too. A lot of young talented GK’s in this age groups. And of course Noakhai Banks. Some talent at CB in this age groups and talent at both outside backs positions.
I do think overall this age group has more talent overall then the last one.
But if you compare it to say 2019 group with Dest, Richards, and Weah it’s hard to find one with that top end talent. Campbell maybe, Kochen perhaps but I’m not sure Diego gets that hype if he’s not at Barca. This team seems to be a lot of Mark McKenzie, solid pro in Europe but not locked in starter for NT. Gozo has made incredible strides in the last 12 months though. Hopefully this group isn’t ravaged by injuries (Pomykal, Soto, Ledezma, Servania, Llanez) in the coming years like the 2019s were plus some just epic dropoffs (Mendez, Gloster, Konrad). 2017s had Adams, Sargent, EPB, CCV, Trusty, Luca and of course Weston, Haji, and Pulisic not released.
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Also missing Akinmboni, but he’s been hurt.
Hard to judge but their draw isn’t easy. If they win the group they’ll likely play Italy or Argentina with a date with Group C winner Brazil, Mexico, Spain, or Morocco. Runner up might be easier draw Colombia and then probably South Korea or Ukraine or the team that finishes third in that group C. It won’t be easy to get to the quarters let alone the semifinals.
Maybe overall not the best age group we’ve ever had, but about as full of roster as we’ve had in a long time. Just missing Kristian Fletcher who is injured and Banks who was most likely not released.
Likely lineup
Miller-Gozo-Campbell
Cremaschi-Taha-Raines
Bombino-Wydner,-Cobb-Westfield.
Kochen
Baker-Whitting seems likely at RB.
You are probably right, I didn’t realize he was right footed since he usually plays LB for Seattle. It was Reed and Bambino who started together last window. Tsakiris might start over Habroune, but Taha has been getting regular minutes with The Crew the last two months and Tsakiris has been playing in Next Pro.
My only concern just like last group is who is going to score goals? Zambrano hasn’t shown to be prolific and Gozo is better on the wing.
Maybe he is more prolific than I thought he has 4 in 6 games.
Probably going to be some False 9ing from Campbell or Gozo.
Zambrano has been scoring a lot for RSL II since leaving Portugal but he can’t play every minute so someone is going to have to play as a false 9. Ngoma has been playing regularly for NYRB so maybe he wasn’t released? But in 21 man roster you’ve got to make compromises somewhere. It’s too bad Banks wasn’t released since he hasn’t played a minute for Augsburg. Their back three were pretty poor against Mainz today so maybe he gets some minutes soon.