The US U-20 staff will face Colombia and Egypt in Cairo in early June for its final camp earlier than World Cup preparations start in September. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta breaks down the roster in addition to the World Cup draw which was held on Thursday night time
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
Could 30, 2025
11:05 AM
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UNITED STATES U-20 head coach Marko Mitrovic as we speak introduced his roster for what is anticipated to be the staff’s final camp earlier than last World Cup preparations start in mid-September. This camp will happen in Cairo, Egypt and the staff will face Colombia on June 7 and hosts Egypt on June 10. This comes the morning after the U.S. staff realized its draw.
On Thursday night time, the U.S. U-20 staff realized that it was positioned into Group E with France, New Caledonia, and South Africa.
It has been a profitable cycle for the U.S. U-20 staff which certified for the World Cup final summer time beneath head coach Michael Nsien. Then when Mitrovic took over in October, the staff has posted wins over Chile, France, South Korea, and Mexico together with a draw in opposition to Japan. This camp will now see the staff face two extra prime groups at this age degree.
Not surprisingly, this roster sees numerous acquainted faces from current camps and we’ve got an thought of most of Mitrovic’s first alternative gamers. However with the U-20 World Cup happening in September by means of October, getting gamers launched for this event could be a big downside as each MLS and all European leagues shall be in session.
In that respect, Mitrovic may need to dig deeper into this participant pool. In doing that, there are just a few new gamers on this staff and others who may need a excessive chance of being launched.
Right here is the roster together with some ideas on it.
The U.S. U-20 June Roster
Goalkeepers (2): Gavin Beavers (Brondby/DEN; Henderson, Nev.), Diego Kochen (FC Barcelona/ESP; Miramar, Fla.)
Defenders (8): Matai Akinmboni (Bournemouth/ENG; Higher Marlboro, Md.), Reed Baker-Whiting (Seattle Sounders; Seattle, Wash.), Luca Bombino (San Diego FC; Saugus, Calif.), Noah Cobb (Atlanta United; Chattanooga, Tenn.), Tate Johnson (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; Tampa, Fla.), Ethan Kohler (Werder Bremen/GER; Campbell, Calif.), Nolan Norris (FC Dallas; Fort Value, Texas), Francis Westfield (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.)
Midfielders (6): Matthew Corcoran (Nashville SC; Dallas, Texas), Benjamin Cremaschi (Inter Miami; Key Biscayne, Fla.), Taha Habroune (Columbus Crew; Columbus, Ohio), Sergio Oregel Jr. (Chicago Hearth; Chicago, Unwell.), Brooklyn Raines (Houston Dynamo; Chicago, Unwell.), Pedro Soma (FC Barcelona/ESP; Coconut Creek, Fla.)
Forwards (6): Luke Brennan (Atlanta United; Atlanta, Ga.), Kristian Fletcher (D.C. United; Bowie, Md.), Zavier Gozo (Actual Salt Lake; Eagle Mountain, Utah), Peyton Miller (New England Revolution; Unionville, Conn.), Serge Ngoma Jr. (New York Purple Bulls; North Plainfield, N.J.), Marcos Zambrano (Vitoria Guimaraes/POR; Gladwyne, Pa.)
Attention-grabbing inclusions
The roster is usually in keeping with the three earlier FIFA-window camps which have taken place beneath Mitrovic. There are, nevertheless, three new call-ups for gamers who might be making a late push into the combination.
Tate Johnson: the Vancouver Whitecaps left again has taken benefit of massive alternatives in current months. Simply final fall he was taking part in for the College of North Carolina. However then he opted for the MLS draft, discovered his approach to Vancouver, and performed an enormous function within the staff’s push into first place within the West and within the last of the CONCACAF Cup. He’ll now have one likelihood to make his case to be a left again for the U-20 World Cup staff.
Luca Bombino: was initially on the U.S. U-19 staff however then shifted to the U-20 staff. On mortgage from LAFC to San Diego, Bombino has been taking part in numerous minutes for the growth staff at left again the place he’s taking part in nicely. With Johnson, Bombino, Nolan Norris, and Peyton Miller (who’s listed as a ahead however performs left again for New England), the left again place is very aggressive.
Serge Ngoma Jr.: Two years in the past, the New York Purple Bulls winger appeared as if he could be a prime participant for this age group. However he has battled accidents for more often than not since then. This 12 months, nevertheless, he has been capable of keep wholesome and now has been rewarded with a call-up. The wing place is skinny and Ngoma may need an actual likelihood of constructing the staff.
Launch points loom
As everybody is aware of, the large activity for Mitrovic with this staff is attempt to get lots of his prime gamers launched. For some gamers, it merely won’t be doable as golf equipment have the proper to say no. If Mitrovic can get all of his MLS-based gamers, that shall be an enormous step ahead. If he can get his gamers overseas who aren’t but with first groups (Kohler, Soma, Zambrano, Kochen and so forth) that can even be an enormous step. However at this level, some gamers would possibly exit on mortgage this summer time, some gamers would possibly earn first-team promotions, and a few gamers could be transferred. That makes it troublesome for Mitrovic to even begin the discussions now.
However wanting forward, the largest challenges and largest alternatives when it comes to releases comes with the three prime central defenders who are actually primarily based overseas with Mataki Akinmboni, Noahkai Banks, and Josh Wynder. If he can get two of these gamers to the World Cup, the staff shall be in an excellent spot. However on this roster, solely Akinmboni is there.
Most prime gamers are on this roster
There are just a few key gamers not on this staff. Cole Campbell has been injured since early March with Borussia Dortmund. Noahkai Banks can also be not on the staff. Josh Wynder is busy with Benfica and isn’t included. Niko Tsakiris has been injured for San Jose.
After these absences, most prime gamers are right here. That ought to make this staff aggressive on this camp.
Whereas perhaps not prime gamers, it is very important be aware that Nolan Norris, Ethan Kohler, and Taha Habroune have been in any respect eight camps this cycle. That bodes nicely that they may probably be called-up to the World Cup staff
Gamers with probably the most to realize this camp
Along with the newcomers listed above, there are just a few different gamers who’ve a large alternative at this camp.
Peyton Miller is among the prime American youngsters proper now and he’s taking part in up a U-20 cycle with this staff. Listed as a ahead, he has proven an enormous ceiling taking part in left again for the New England Revolution. He has an opportunity to be a World Cup starter within the fall if he continues to carry out nicely in these U-20 camps.
Zavier Gozo can also be taking part in up a cycle and his minutes have elevated with Actual Salt Lake. He can add some measurement and power to the U.S. U-20 staff’s assault.
Sergio Oregel Jr. has been among the many first staff minutes leaders amongst this U-20 pool. The Chicago central midfielder isn’t a lock to make the World Cup staff however this camp can/ought to put him on the within of this bubble. The truth that he made this roster over Johnny Shore (who’s with the U.S. U-19 staff) is a telling signal that Oregel has an actual likelihood to go to Chile. He simply must play nicely.
Matthew Corcoran is in an analogous state of affairs as Oregel as he’s in a decent race to make the World Cup staff. Oregel, Corcoran, and Shore appear to be going for one or two spots on the World Cup staff. The 2007-born Shore isn’t right here and this offers Corcoran an enormous likelihood.
U-20 World Cup draw set
The U-20 World Cup draw came about Thursday night time and the USA was drawn into Group E together with New Caledonia, France, and South Africa.
The highest two groups together with the 4 finest third place groups all qualify for the knockouts.
The U.S. U-20 realized their World Cup draw final night- USA, New Caledonia, France, South Africa. – Not a nasty group when you think about France will wrestle with releases- Mexico was given the Group of Loss of life. pic.twitter.com/V6dgiUy5Rg
— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) Could 30, 2025
It’s all the time onerous to gauge whether or not a draw is nice or not on the youth ranges. France is a powerhouse in world soccer, however they might wrestle mightily with getting gamers launched – as they did in 2023.
Judging by historic knowledge, Mexico was given a really troublesome draw with Spain, Brazil, and Morocco.
Right here is the schedule for the U.S. U-20 staff with all the staff’s video games happening in Rancagua at Estadio Braden Copper Co.
U.S. vs. New Caledonia: Monday, September 29
U.S. vs. France: Thursday, October 2
U.S. vs. South Africa: Sunday, October 5
