U-20 USMNT roster announced for March friendlies in Argentina

CHICAGO – The U.S. Under-20 Men’s Youth National Team will head to Buenos Aires, Argentina for matches vs. Argentina on March 26 and Argentine Primera Division club River Plate on March 29.

Head coach Mikey Varas has called up 20 players for the training camp from March 21-30 as the USA continues preparations for this summer’s Concacaf U-20 Championship in Honduras, which will serve as qualification to the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Players born on or after Jan. 1, 2003 are age-eligible for the 2022-23 U-20 MYNT cycle. The roster features 13 players born in 2003, six born in 2004 and one born in 2005.

The USA will face Argentina’s U-20s at the AFA National Training Center and then play a River Plate squad made up of first team players staying with the club through the international break, as well as reserve and academy players.

U-20 MYNT ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB; HOMETOWN; U-20 CAPS/GOALS) – ARGENTINA MATCHES

GOALKEEPERS (2): Alexander Borto (Fulham/ENG; South Plainfield, N.J.; 1/0), Christopher Brady (Chicago Fire FC; Naperville, Ill.; 0/0)

DEFENDERS (7): Justin Che (Hoffenheim/GER; Richardson, Texas; 3/0), Brandan Craig (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.; 0/0), Mauricio Cuevas (Club Brugge/BEL; Los Angeles, Calif.; 0/0), Marcus Ferkranus (LA Galaxy; Santa Clarita, Calif.; 0/0), Kobi Henry (Orange County; Lake Forest, Calif.; 2/0), Jalen Neal (LA Galaxy; Lakewood, Calif.; 3/0), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United; Atlanta, Ga.; 3/0)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Paxten Aaronson (Philadelphia Union; Medford, N.J.; 2/0), Caden Clark (New York Red Bulls; Wayzata, Minn.; 2/1), Daniel Edelman (New York Red Bulls; Warren, N.J.; 2/0), Diego Luna (El Paso Locomotive; Redwood, Calif.; 2/1), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union; Middle Village, N.Y.; 2/0), Rokas Pukstas (Hajduk Split/CRO; Stillwater, Okla.; 2/0), Obed Vargas (Seattle Sounders; Anchorage, Alaska)

FORWARDS (4): Brian Gutierrez (Chicago Fire FC; Chicago, Ill.; 3/0), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg/GER; South Riding, Va.; 0/0), Dante Sealy (PSV Eindhoven/NED; Frisco, Texas; 2/0), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.; 1/0)

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The training camp will be held in accordance with U.S. Soccer’s comprehensive Return to Play protocols. U.S. Soccer requires all staff and players be fully vaccinated in order to attend USYNT training camps. As a leader in the sport, the health and safety of all participants is the top priority for the Federation.

The matches in Argentina will serve as Varas’ third training camp in charge of the U-20 MYNT after kicking off the cycle with games vs. Brazil, Colombia and Mexico at November’s Revelations Cup. The team also held a domestic January training camp in Bradenton, Fla., facing off against two MLS squads in preseason.

Ten players have been a part of both of the first two U-20 MYNT camps this cycle, while two are making their first appearance with the team – Chicago Fire FC goalkeeper Chris Brady and Wolfsburg midfielder Kevin Paredes. Six players will look to pick up their first U-20 international caps in Argentina after 14 made their debuts at the Revelations Cup.

Paredes, defenders Justin Che and Kobi Henry plus forward Caden Clark have all previously been called up to the senior USMNT. Clark, Henry and Paredes were a part of the full team’s December training camp but did not play in the USA’s match vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina. Paredes departed the camp early with an injury. Che was called up to the senior squad’s May 2021 training camp before its match vs. Switzerland, but did not play in the game.

Twelve of 13 domestic-based field players have already seen the field early in the Major League Soccer and USL Championship seasons. Midfielder Obed Vargas, the lone 2005-born player on the roster and a rare call-up from Alaska, has played every minute for Seattle in the Concacaf Champions League, impressing in two wins vs. Honduras’ Motagua and a victory against Mexico’s León. Defender Caleb Wiley scored his first professional goal in his MLS debut on opening weekend, netting for Atlanta United FC to cap off a 3-1 win.

Fourteen clubs are represented on the roster, including six from MLS. Fifteen players are MLS Homegrowns, with four coming from the Philadelphia Union, while two each come from the Chicago Fire FC, LA Galaxy and New York Red Bulls. Six players are based abroad, playing for clubs in Germany (two), Belgium, Croatia, England and the Netherlands (one each). Players hail from 11 states, with the most, five, from California.