The US U-20 soccer team has announced its 21-player roster for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, which will take place in Argentina from May 20 to June 11. Chelsea goalkeeper Gaga Slonina and San Jose Earthquakes forward Cade Cowell are among the key players named in the squad. Real Sociedad defender Jonathan Gomez and Atlanta United defender Caleb Wiley also made the cut.
Alternates to Travel with the Team
Philadelphia Union forward Quinn Sullivan, who scored six goals during the competition, was included in the list. Six players, including Hajduk Split midfielder Rokas Pukstas, play their club soccer abroad. Three alternates will travel with the U.S. team to Argentina to train with the team prior to the tournament: Orlando City defender Thomas Williams, Real Salt Lake midfielder Moses Nyeman, and forward Korede Osundina of USL Championship side Orange County SC.
The U.S. team will begin Group B play on Saturday, May 20 against Ecuador, before facing Fiji on Tuesday, May 23 and closing the group stage against Slovakia on Friday, May 26. All three matches kick off at 2 p.m. ET.
The Americans qualified by winning the 2022 CONCACAF U20 championship in Honduras. A 3-0 win against hosts Honduras saw the U.S. men qualify for the Olympics for the first time since 2008, while a 6-0 triumph against the Dominican Republic in the final secured the tournament crown.
U.S. U-20 manager Mikey Varas expressed his excitement about the squad and said, “To represent your country at a World Cup is a tremendous honor. We embrace the responsibility that comes with this opportunity. This group has put in so much hard work since the cycle kicked off to get to this point, and we will give everything on and off the field for our country. We’re very appreciative of the cooperation we’ve had from clubs, both at home and abroad, to release their players and let them shine on this global stage.”
Clubs were not required to release players for the tournament, with Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Paxten Aaronson as well as the Chicago Fire duo of goalkeeper Chris Brady and midfielder Brian Gutierrez among those who will remain with their clubs. Pukstas and Wolfsburg’s Kevin Paredes will also stay with their clubs and only join the U.S. after the group stage, should the team make it that far, Varas told media.
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