Academy

Tab Ramos calls in MLS-heavy squad for US U-20 national team's January camp

Paxton Pomykal - FC Dallas - Close up

Tab Ramos broke news of the US Under-20 national team’s next roster on Friday, posting on Twitter his list of call-ups for a training camp in Florida this month.


Emphasizing the opportunity for newer faces to impress as he steers his team into the final stages of preparation for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which takes place in Poland in May and June, the coach noted that 14 of the 24 players called in did not take part in last fall’s qualifying campaign, which ended with the US U-20s’ second consecutive Concacaf championship triumph.

Six MLS clubs are represented in terms of first-teamers on the roster, with FC Dallas leading the way with three players: Jesus Ferreira, Paxton Pomykal (pictured above) and Brandon Servania, as well as academy product Mark Salas, currently at UNC.


The Philadelphia Union contribute two participants, Anthony Fontana and Matt Real, while D.C. United's Chris Durkin, Sporting Kansas City's Jaylin Lindsey and Toronto FC's Ayo Akinola also got the call. 


Two members of the recently announced Generation adidas class — UCLA's Frankie Amaya and Indiana's Griffin Dorsey — also made the cut. They were expected to compete in the combine but both players will now be in Orlando for medicals and performance testing, before departing for Sarasota. They will return on Jan. 8 for player interviews and will play in the final match on Jan. 9 prior to attending the SuperDraft.


Products of several other MLS academies are taking part, including those from Atlanta UnitedColumbus Crew SC, LA Galaxy, New England RevolutionNew York Red Bulls, Real Salt Lake and Seattle Sounders youth systems.


Ramos also revealed that his former US national teammate Tony Meola, former Chicago Fire and Montreal Impact head coach Frank Klopas and longtime youth national teams coach Omid Namazi will comprise his technical staff for this camp.


The team is set to play two matches during the camp as they will face a US Under-19 squad on Jan. 8 at 4 pm ET and a still to be determined opponent on Jan. 12 at 4 pm ET.


US U-20 roster

Pos.
Player
Club
GK
Justin Garces
UCLA
GK
Trey Muse
Indiana
D
Chris Durkin
D.C. United
D
Aboubacar Keita
Virginia
D
Edwin Lara
Club Leon
D
Jaylin Lindsey
Sporting Kansas City
D
Matthew Real
Philadelphia Union
D
Sam Rogers
Seattle Sounders 2
D
Mark Salas
North Carolina
D
Aristotle Zarris
Wake Forest
M
Frankie Amaya
UCLA
M
Christian Cappis
Hobro
M
Jose Carranza
Louisville City FC
M
Omir Fernandez
Wake Forest
M
Anthony Fontana
Philadelphia Union
M
Paxton Pomykal
FC Dallas
M
Brandon Servania
FC Dallas
F
Ayo Akinola
Toronto FC
F
Simon Becher
Unattached
F
Griffin Dorsey
Indiana
F
Jesus Ferreira
FC Dallas
F
Nebiyou Perry
FC Koln
F
Justin Rennicks
Indiana
F
Nick Taitague
Schalke