Tag: USMNT U-20

USMNT U-20 World Cup roster: Aaronson out, Paredes in for U.S.

Several clubs prevented players from joining the roster, but Mikey Varas still has a strong team

Head coach Mikey Varas has named a 21-player roster that will represent the United States at the Under-20 World Cup, which kicks off later this month in Argentina.

The squad has been weakened after several clubs blocked their players from competing in the tournament, which does not fall on the FIFA calendar and therefore does not require teams to let their players go.

But Varas has still been able to name a strong roster, with other clubs allowing some key players to represent the U.S. at the tournament.

In a major blow, Eintracht Frankfurt did not release Paxten Aaronson, the top scorer and player of the tournament in last summer’s CONCACAF U-20 Championship.

Chicago Fire head coach Ezra Hendrickson said last week the club wouldn’t release midfielder Brian Gutiérrez and goalkeeper Chris Brady — which remained true even after Hendrickson was sacked this week.

The LA Galaxy have also prevented defender Jalen Neal from joining the squad, with the 19-year-old becoming a starter this season.

Interestingly, Croatian club Hajduk Split said last week it wouldn’t be releasing midfielder Rokas Pukštas, but the 18-year-old is on the roster.

Kevin Paredes, who has become a regular with Wolfsburg this season, was also on the squad in a boost for the U.S., as was Atlanta United’s rising left back Caleb Wiley.

Varas said on a conference call that Paredes and Pukštas would be joining the team after the group stage, should the U.S. advance.

The U.S. kicks off Group B play on May 20 against Ecuador then faces Fiji on May 23 and Slovakia on May 26 to close out the group.

The top two finishers from each of the six groups, as well as the four best third-place teams will advance to the round of 16.

USMNT U-20 World Cup roster (caps/goals)

GOALKEEPERS: Alexander Borto (Fulham/ENG; South Plainfield, N.J.; 2/0), Antonio Carrera (FC Dallas; Frisco, Texas; 4/0), Gaga Slonina (Chelsea/ENG; Addison, Ill.; 5/0)

DEFENDERS (7): Justin Che (Hoffenheim/GER; Dallas, Texas; 6/0), Brandan Craig (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.; 10/1), Mauricio Cuevas (LA Galaxy; Los Angeles, Calif.; 13/1), Marcus Ferkranus (LA Galaxy; Santa Clarita, Calif.; 11/0), Jonathan Gomez (Real Sociedad/ESP; Keller, Texas; 6/0), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United FC; Atlanta, Ga.; 5/0), Joshua Wynder (Louisville City FC; Louisville, Ky.; 2/0)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Daniel Edelman (New York Red Bulls; Warren, N.J.; 10/0), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake; Sunnyvale, Calif.; 16/4), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union; Middle Village, N.Y.; 16/2), Rokas Pukstas (Hajduk Split/CRO; Stillwater, Okla.; 12/1), Niko Tsakiris (San Jose Earthquakes; Saratoga, Calif.; 5/3), Obed Vargas (Seattle Sounders FC; Anchorage, Alaska; 4/0), Owen Wolff (Austin FC; Austin, Texas; 3/1)

FORWARDS (4): Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes; Ceres, Calif.; 7/2), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg/GER; South Riding, Va.; 6/2), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.; 15/7), Darren Yapi (Colorado Rapids; Denver, Colo.; 3/0)

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Curtin disagrees with clubs blocking players from U-20 World Cup

“We’re not Spain, we’re not Germany, we’re not Argentina. We haven’t won a World Cup ever”

Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin has said he doesn’t agree with clubs preventing their players from going to the U-20 World Cup, which starts later this month.

Clubs across the world are facing tough decisions as the tournament draws near. The U-20 World Cup does not fall within a FIFA window, meaning clubs would potentially be losing players for multiple games should they allow them to play in the tournament.

Already, some potentially key American players have been ruled out by their clubs.

On Wednesday, Chicago Fire head coach Ezra Hendrickson said the club wouldn’t release midfielder Brian Gutiérrez and goalkeeper Chris Brady. The next day, Croatian club Hajduk Split said it wouldn’t be releasing midfielder Rokas Pukštas.

There was some good news too for the U.S. U-20s, as Atlanta United left back Caleb Wiley said he was cleared to play by his team.

Curtin delivered even more good news on Thursday, saying he would release any of his players who are called. That means the Union will likely be without Brandan Craig, Quinn Sullivan and Jack McGlynn for an extended period.

While confirming his players would be available, the Union head coach said he disagreed with clubs who aren’t allowing players to go to the World Cup.

“Sometimes we get in our own way and act like we’re Europe or South America,” Curtin told reporters.

“We’re not there yet. We’re not Spain, we’re not Germany, we’re not Argentina. We haven’t won a World Cup ever. Let’s try to win every competition at the youth level and show we have great players because we do.”

“Think about the kids too,” he continued. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that they may never get back again. To prevent them from playing in a U-20 World Cup? I’m sorry, I don’t agree with it.

“Maybe I’m in the minority there, but that’s what I believe in and that’s what our club believes in. Any of the guys that [U-20 head coach] Mikey Varas calls in, we will excitedly release them.”

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USMNT U-20s draw Ecuador, Fiji and Slovakia at World Cup

The U.S. will face Ecuador for a third straight tournament

The U.S. has been drawn with Ecuador, Fiji and Slovakia in Group B of the 2023 Under-20 World Cup.

The draw for the event was held on Friday, almost a month after it was originally scheduled, due to FIFA stripping Indonesia of its hosting rights and awarding the tournament to Argentina earlier this week.

Despite the last-minute change of host, the tournament will still be held between May 20 and June 11.

For the U.S., it will be the third straight U-20 World Cup they’ve faced Ecuador. The South American side knocked them out at the quarterfinal stage of the 2019 U-20 World Cup.

This will be the first time the U.S. has faced Fiji and Slovakia at the U-20 World Cup.

The top two finishers from each of the six groups, as well as the four best third-place teams will advance to the round of 16.

Per U.S. Soccer, all three of the USA’s games will be in San Juan. The dates for the matches are as follows:

Saturday, May 20: vs Ecuador

Tuesday, May 23: vs Fiji

Friday, May 26: vs Slovakia

Full U-20 World Cup draw

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