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USMNT U-20 manager Tab Ramos has called in his first roster of 2019. As the team prepares for the U-20 Men’s World Cup in Poland this summer, Ramos is expanding the player pool with 14 players who were not a part of the qualifying campaign.
New Year = New Opportunity! U20 @ussoccer_ynt begins Road to U20 World Cup today with 14 players who did not participate in the @concacaf Championship ... Camp is in FL through Jan 13th ... Assistants @onamazi @TMeola1 @FKlopas pic.twitter.com/vdXB0NWrs6
— Tab Ramos (@RamosTab) January 4, 2019
The camp will be the first gathering for the U-20s after winning the Concacaf U-20 title by beating Mexico 2-0 in November. Alex Mendez, a standout from that tournament, was not invited as he presumably is settling in with his new club, FC Freiburg.
The U-20s will look to build on their quarter final showing in the 2017 World Cup. That team included a number of players who have gone on to earn caps for the senior national team. Both Josh Sargent and Cameron Carter-Vickers had standout performances in the tournament. As was the case for Sargent, the U-20 World Cup can be a stepping stone for young players to show scouts what they have to offer.