The U.S. men’s national team won’t be the only squad in action this month.
U.S. Soccer revealed a 20-player roster that will take part in a U.S. Under-21 men’s national team training camp from Nov. 10-18 in Europe. The USMNT U-21’s will also face Denmark in Vejle on Nov. 14 and Serbia in Backa Topola on Nov. 18, with former USMNT U-20 assistant coach Michael Morris, serving as head coach of this U-21 squad.
Damion Downs, Gabriel Slonina, and Diego Kochen have all been called into previous USMNT senior camps, with Downs leading the way with six caps. Thirteen players have represented the United States at a FIFA Youth World Cup, including nine players from last month’s FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.
Reed Baker-Whiting, Cole Campbell, Brooklyn Raines and Niko Tsakiris are among those who featured in Chile in October. Brandan Craig, Rokas Pukstas and Darren Yapi, along with Slonina and Tsakiris were also on the USMNT U-20 roster at the 2023 U-20 World Cup in Argentina.
The USMNT U-21’s will train and play matches through summer 2026 in an effort to make up on national team programming that players in this current age group missed during the COVID-19 pandemic. This camp will also serve as great preparation for the USMNT U-21’s ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Olympic rosters will mainly feature players under the age of 23-years-old.
“The Under-21 age group is common across the international game, and this programming allows us to continue building a foundation for all of our National Team programs,” U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker said.
“We have players in this group who have already been with the senior national team, and more who are maybe just a small step away from establishing themselves at that level. We continue our work to connect the senior team with our youth teams and holding Under-21 camps helps us provide them with high-level international opportunities to further their development.”
Here is a breakdown of the full USMNT U-21 roster:
GOALKEEPERS: Diego Kochen (FC Barcelona/ESP Miramar, Fla.), Gaga Slonina (Chelsea/ENG; Addison, Ill.).
DEFENDERS: Reed Baker-Whiting (Seattle Sounders; Seattle, Wash.), Noah Cobb (Colorado Rapids; Chattanooga, Tenn.), Brandan Craig (CF Montreal/CAN; Philadelphia, Pa.), Ethan Kohler (SC Verl/GER; Campbell, Calif.), Nolan Norris (FC Dallas; Fort Worth, Texas), Thomas Williams (Orlando City; Titusville, Fla.).
MIDFIELDERS: Santiago Castañeda (Paderborn/GER; Tampa, Fla.), Jackson Hopkins (D.C. United; Fredericksburg, Va.), Rokas Pukstas (Hajduk Split/CRO; Stillwater, Okla.), Brooklyn Raines (Houston Dynamo; Chicago, Ill.), Niko Tsakiris (San Jose Earthquakes; Saratoga, Calif.), Gerardo Valenzuela (FC Cincinnati; Boca Raton, Fla.).
FORWARDS: Cole Campbell (Borussia Dortmund/GER; Peachtree City, Ga.), Damion Downs (Southampton/ENG; Werneck, Germany), Zavier Gozo (Real Salt Lake; Eagle Mountain, Utah), Mykhi Joyner (St. Louis City; Bloomington, IL), Peyton Miller (New England Revolution; Unionville, Conn.), Darren Yapi (Colorado Rapids; Denver, Colo.).
And the U20 cycle is starting a new with matches in Costa Rica. Headlined by Keyrol Figueroa and Cruz Medina.
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U19s are playing in a tournament in Wales. They’ll face Germany, Japan, and will get to play Wales at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham. This might be the roster I’m most unfamiliar with Harbor Miller and Marvin Dills the biggest names. I do like Tristen Brown who is likely to get some opportunities with Columbus next season.
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The U16s are preparing for qualifying for next years U17 WC with a camp in Dubai. They play England, Australia, and Côte d’Ivoire. Manu Romero of Real Madrid is headliner (son of Uruguayan international Marcelo Romero) born in North Carolina during his father’s time at Carolina Railhawks. Former Red Bull and now AC Milan prospect Astin Mbaye is also in the squad. No Prince Forfor (injured last month against Netherlands), but I’ve got shoutout fellow Iowans whenever possible.
Definitely keeping my eye more on Yappi next season. Has developed quite well since the 2023 U20 WC.
Make one a “Camp” for Jan and Feb.
Watching Mathis Albert and he is having a Cole Campbell tournament.
Giving them a gift in the 3rd minute let them sit pretty deep. These guys don’t appear to have figured out how to play together, a lot of get into the final third and try to go one on one. When Tajikistan is putting 9 guys in the box that equates to 1 on 3. Midfield and defenders were pretty poor with their passing in the first half (missed most of 2nd half running errands). Survive and advance.
Yeah definitely wasnt great. but they are pretty much through to the next round.
If I was Segares I would switch Berchimas to the left and put Mathis on the right against Czech Republic. Put Terry and Tsakiris at the DM’s with Cavan underneath Julian Hall. He needs to get his outside backs moved up a bit higher too.
A lot of bad touches in the attack needs to be cleaned up.
2tone: they have already advanced, clinching at worst being one of the advancing 3rd places. So they’ve already done better than Pulisic, Haji, Adams, Zendajas, and Luca group (Wes got cut) and the Reyna, Scally, Busio, Pepi, Yow, and George Bello team.