After several different training camps and friendlies, Tab Ramos has finally decided on the 20 players who will travel to Costa Rica to participate in the CONCACAF U-20 Championship, a tournament that doubles as World Cup qualifying for the region.
The standout names that have earned a spot on the roster includes the No. 4 overall draft pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft, Jeremy Ebobisse. He has been a prolific scorer for the team in the lead up for this tournament. There’s also players such has Tyler Adams, Erik Palmer-Brown, Tommy Redding, Luca De la Torre, and Brooks Lennon who have pro experience in this side. Palmer-Brown will serve as the team’s captain.
“This process is always difficult,” Ramos told ussoccer.com. “Inevitably you always end up leaving a couple guys out who deserve to be on the roster. When selecting a roster for a tournament like this, where you are trying to qualify to the world cup, you are putting together a best 11 and then players who can play multiple positions. So that’s what we've done. We are happy with the team and we are looking forward to qualifying.”
Four World Cup spots are up for grabs. A normal group stage known as the classification stage will take place with the top two finishers of the three groups advancing to two groups of three. Those teams will play another round of matches with the top two finishers in the classification stage earning a spot in the U-20 World Cup to be held in South Korea from mid-May to early June.
The United States have been drawn into Group B alongside Panama, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Haiti.
Our understanding is that FOX Sports will have some type of broadcasts in place, but the specific plans are not known yet.
Here’s the full roster for the tournament:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Jonathan Klinsmann (University of California; Newport Beach, Calif.), JT Marcinkowski (Georgetown; Alamo, Calif.)
DEFENDERS (6): Marlon Fossey (Fulham F.C.; Surbiton, England), Justen Glad (Real Salt Lake; Tucson, Ariz.), Aaron Herrera (New Mexico; Casa Grande, Ariz.), Erik Palmer-Brown (Sporting Kansas City; Lee's Summit, Mo.), Tommy Redding (Orlando City SC; Oviedo, Fla.), Auston Trusty (Philadelphia Union; Media, Pa.)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Danny Acosta (Real Salt Lake; Salt Lake City, Utah), Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls; Wappingers Falls, N.Y), Coy Craft (FC Dallas; Frisco, Texas), Luca De la Torre (Fulham F.C.; San Diego, Calif.), Jonathan Gonzalez (CF Monterrey; Santa Rosa, Calif.), Jeremiah Gutjahr (Indiana University; Bloomington, Ind.), Jonathan Lewis (New York City FC; Plantation, Fla.), Sebastian Saucedo (Real Salt Lake; Park City, Utah), Eryk Williamson (University of Maryland; Alexandria, Va.)
FORWARDS (3): Jeremy Ebobisse (Portland Timbers; Bethesda, Md.), Brooks Lennon (Real Salt Lake; Paradise Valley, Ariz.), Emmanuel Sabbi (UD Las Palmas; Libertyville, Ill.)