CHICAGO (Sept. 21, 2017) – U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team head coach John Hackworth has named a 21-player roster for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in India, which runs from Oct. 6-28.
“This cycle of players is unique in terms of the quality, depth and work ethic of the group,” Hackworth said. “The biggest challenge in selecting this roster was the competition for spots at almost every position. Our team is looking forward to this opportunity to compete for the U-17 World Cup and are motivated to prove themselves on the world stage.”
The group departs Sept. 24 for training in Dubai, where the remaining players will join the camp prior to arrival in India.
The USA was drawn into Group A with Colombia, Ghana and India. The team opens group play vs. India on Oct. 6 (10:30 a.m. ET), followed by matches against Ghana on Oct. 9 (7:30 a.m. ET) and Colombia on Oct. 12 (10:30 a.m. ET). The first two games will be played at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, while the final group game will be played at Dr. DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. All of the U.S.’s group matches will be broadcast live on FS2 and UNIVERSO.
The World Cup will be played in six cities across India: Kochi, Goa, Navi Mumbai, New Delhi, Guwahati, and Kolkata. A total of 24 countries participate in the tournament with the top two teams from each of the six groups, as well as the four best third-place teams, advance to the Round of 16 on October 16, 17, and 18. The championship and third-place matches take place Saturday, Oct. 28, at the 66,600-capacity Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium in Kolkata.
In its last FIFA U-17 World Cup appearance in 2015, the USA was drawn into Group A where it finished 0-2-1 in group play behind eventual tournament champions Nigeria, Croatia and host Chile. The 2015 roster included now regular professionals Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund), Luca de la Torre (Fulham), Auston Trusty (Philadelphia Union), Brandon Vasquez (Atlanta United) and Haji Wright (SV Sandhausen).
The FIFA U-17 World Cup showcases some of the world’s best young talent that can eventually impace country’s senior national teams. In its opening game at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the starting lineup for the full U.S. MNT featured five players who had previously played in a U-17 World Cup: Jozy Altidore (2005), DaMarcus Beasley (1999), Kyle Beckerman (1999) and Tim Howard (1995).
U.S. 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Alex Budnik (Sockers FC; Arlington Heights, Ill.), Carlos Joaquim Dos Santos (S.L. Benfica; Philadelphia, Penn.), Justin Garces (Atlanta United FC; Miami, Fla.)
DEFENDERS (6): Sergiño Dest (Ajax; Almere-stad, Netherlands), Christopher Gloster (New York Red Bulls; Montclair, N.J.), Jaylin Lindsey (Sporting Kansas City; Charlotte, N.C.), James Sands (New York City FC; Rye, N.Y.), Tyler Shaver (New York City FC; Greenwich, Conn.), Akil Watts (Portland Timbers, Fort Wayne, Ind.)
MIDFIELDERS (6): George Acosta (North Carolina FC; Hollywood, Fla.), Taylor Booth (Real Salt Lake; Eden, Utah), Christopher Durkin (D.C. United; Glen Allen, Va.), Blaine Ferri (Solar Soccer Club; Southlake, Texas), Chris Goslin (Atlanta United FC; Locust Grove, Ga.), Indiana Vassilev (Unattached; Savannah, Ga.)
FORWARDS (6): Ayo Akinola (Toronto FC; Brampton Ont.), Andrew Carleton (Atlanta United FC; Powder Springs, Ga.), Jacobo Reyes (C.F. Monterrey; Houston, Texas), Bryan Reynolds (FC Dallas; Little Elm, Texas), Joshua Sargent (St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri; O'Fallon, Mo.), Tim Weah (Paris Saint-Germain F.C., Rosedale, N.Y.)
Development Academy Ties:
- Eighteen players have ties to the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.
- Four players pace the roster with four seasons with a Development Academy club: Chris Gloster, Jaylin Lindsey, Josh Sargent and Tyler Shaver.
Roster Notes:
- Seventeen of the 21 players were part of the team that qualified for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup and finished second at the 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship in April.
- Along with the Atlanta United trio, twelve players on the USA roster represent clubs in Major League Soccer: defenders Chris Gloster (New York Red Bulls), Jaylin Lindsey (Sporting Kansas City), James Sands (New York City FC), Tyler Shaver (New York City FC) and Akil Watts (Portland Timbers), midfielders Taylor Booth (Real Salt Lake) and Chris Durkin (D.C. United), and forwards Ayo Akinola (Toronto FC) and Bryan Reynolds Jr. (FC Dallas).
