The 2010 class regroups after a rough ending to their U-15 cycle, capped off by a 5–0 defeat to Mexico in the Concacaf Championship final. In response, U.S. Soccer has decided to run an exploratory identification camp, bringing in an entirely new group of players from the one that competed at the Concacaf tournament.
U.S. Soccer also announced a new manager in Paul Simpson. Simpson's most notable managerial achievement is leading England U-20s to a World Cup Championship in 2017. He was most recently an assistant coach for Jamaica's men's team.
The roster
GK – Jackson Dale, Seattle Sounders
GK – Zach Crider, FC Cincinnati
GK – Ryan Cloninger, St. Louis City
LB – Jaiden Paz, LA Galaxy
LB – Luca Stephan, Nashville SC
CB – Joshua Brown, Atlanta United
CB – Landon Mulvenna, Philadelphia Union
CB – Oliver Beabout, FC Cincinnati
CB – Sam Anderson, St. Louis City
RB – Fred Bond, Atlanta United
RB – Christopher Thompson, Philadelphia Union
DM – David Ilverbare, Atlanta United (#12 2010 prospect)
DM – Abraham Prado, LAFC
CM – Abdoulaye Diop, Philadelphia Union (#6 2010 prospect)
CM – Samuel Diaz Gallego, Philadelphia Union
CM – Matthew Shannon, Houston Dynamo
AM – Eddie Niles, St. Louis City
AM – Alex Soria, FC Dallas
Winger – Oscar Avilez, DC United
Winger – Brandon Velez, New England Revolution
Winger – Kai Martinez, Atlanta United
Winger – Blake Wilson, St. Louis City
CF – Da’vian Kimbrough, Sacramento Republic (#5 2010 prospect)
CF – Jamil Danjaji, Columbus Crew (#7 2010 prospect)
Top players that are provisionally tied to other countries
LB – Christian McFarlane, Manchester City (England, #6 2007 prospect)
CB – Tyler Meiser, Borussia Mönchengladbach (Germany, #3 2007 prospect)
CB – Michael Bresser, PSV (Netherlands, #13 2007 prospect)
WING – Montrell Culbreath, Bayer Leverkusen (Germany, #9 2007 prospect)
WING – Liam West, Copenhagen (Norway)
Top eligible players not on the roster
Core players getting a break
These players are part of the core group and are simply sitting out so others can be evaluated:
GK – Connor Dale, Inter Miami (#9 2010 prospect)
GK – Jason Nemo, Chicago Fire (#15 2010 prospect)
DM – Nathan Tchoumba, Colorado Rapids (#1 2010 prospect)
AM – Vincente Garcia, LA Galaxy (#2 2010 prospect)
AM – Robert Turdean, Chicago Fire (#3 2010 prospect)
Winger – Ikenna Chidebe, LA Galaxy (#4 2010 prospect)
Concacaf players that should still be in the mix for future camps
These players featured at Concacaf but aren’t yet locks for future rosters:
RB – Finn McCraney, Chicago Fire (#19 2010 prospect)
RB – Jeremiah Munoz Alexander, Charlotte FC
CB – Christian Guillen-Lopez, FC Dallas
CF – Timoni Gbalajobi, Philadelphia Union (#11 2010 prospect)
CF – Kane Kraus, St. Louis City
Dual nationals currently with Mexico
These players represented Mexico at the Concacaf Championship and likely aren’t considering the U.S. at this time:
CM – Matthew Arana, Houston Dynamo (#13 2010 prospect)
CM – Lisandro Torres, LAFC (#20 2010 prospect)
AM – Mono Martinez, LA Galaxy (#16 2010 prospect)
Winger – Paxon Ruffin, Monterrey
European-based players missing this camp
Likely unavailable due to release issues or commitments elsewhere:
GK – Teo Hupfauf, RB Salzburg
CB – Miles Aalbersberg, Ajax
CM – Roman Avakian Gomez, Mainz (#18 2010 prospect)
AM – Will Recupero, VfB Stuttgart
AM/Winger – Kevin Baldwin, Mainz
European-based players missing this camp
Not major omissions, but worth a look at some point:
LB – Seyi Fakiyesi, Atlanta United
LB – Lukas Garasic, Chicago Fire
RB – Jayden Gandu, Columbus Crew
CB – Slate Collins, LAFC
LB/CB – Rocky Rommell II, San Jose Earthquakes
CB – Danny Haders, Real Salt Lake
CB – Costantino Muscedere, NYCFC
CB – Zion Salmon, Inter Miami
CM – Evan Coffing, Atlanta United
CM – Aiden Byasiima, Nashville SC
Winger – Isaiah Yeboah, Strikers
Winger – Theo Hallie II, FC Dallas
Winger – Deshneck Nkeh, Orlando City
CF – Landon Lucero, Seattle Sounders
Biggest omissions
The players I’m most disappointed to not see included:
RB – Dominick Lester, FC Cincinnati
One of the top fullbacks in this age group, capable of playing both sides, and regularly competing above his age level.
CB – Mikel Akinmboni, DC United
A strong mix of size and technical quality that this team badly needs.
CM – Ezra Mahteme, San Jose Earthquakes (#10 2010 prospect)
One of the most talented players in the class, versatile across midfield. With Diop finally in camp, Mahteme now becomes the biggest “missing piece.”
AM – Kamil Castillo, DC United (#8 2010 prospect)
Possibly provisionally tied to the U.S. from the 2023 Concacaf U-15s, which would explain his continued absence.
Winger – Joshua Boney, Barca Residency (#17 2010 prospect)
A very good 1v1 winger, one of the rarest and most valuable profiles.
CF – Jayden Kouadio, Philadelphia Union (#14 2010 prospect)
A skilled, athletic forward who deserves a closer look.
Players I have yet to scout
These are players that could be worthy of a call-up, but I have not yet scouted.
GK, Milan Johnson (Ajax), GK, Paul Küepper (Hertha Berlin), GK, Oliver Luca Mead, (QPR), CB, Max Gordon (Bayer Leverkusen), CM, Ben Moskowitz (Leeds), CM, Andre Bistrain (AD Alcorcón), CM, Ivan Rihachi Tchekan (Hoffenheim), AM, Will Recupero (vBf Stuttgart), AM, Anthony Applewhaite (Mainz), WING, Noah Sheriff Jr (ADO Den Haag), WING, Jonathan Puslecki (Heerenveen), WING, Jayden Eldridge (Nordsjaelland):
Player receiving first camp
GK – Jackson Dale, Seattle Sounders
GK – Ryan Cloninger, St. Louis City
LB – Jaiden Paz, LA Galaxy
LB – Luca Stephan, Nashville SC
CB – Joshua Brown, Atlanta United
CB – Oliver Beabout, FC Cincinnati
CB – Sam Anderson, St. Louis City
RB – Fred Bond, Atlanta United
DM – David Ilverbare, Atlanta United (#12 2010 prospect)
DM – Abraham Prado, LAFC
CM – Abdoulaye Diop, Philadelphia Union (#6 2010 prospect)
CM – Matthew Shannon, Houston Dynamo
AM – Alex Soria, FC Dallas
Winger – Oscar Avilez, DC United
Winger – Brandon Velez, New England Revolution
Winger – Kai Martinez, Atlanta United
Roster grade: B-
There’s plenty to like here.
Abdoulaye Diop is the headline addition. He’s one of the top talents in the class, and it’s a relief to finally see him involved.
David Ilverbare is another long-overdue inclusion. He and Tchoumba could form a top-level group of defensive mids for this team.
Da’vian Kimbrough’s return is fascinating. After helping Mexico win Concacaf, he’s the only one of that group here, suggesting the U.S. still has a real chance. Recruiting him should be a priority.
Danjaji was a major Concacaf snub, so his recall is a positive sign.
Oscar Avilez is a surprise but an exciting one. If eligible, he’s a top-20 level prospect and adds badly needed winger quality behind Chidebe.
I also like the selections of Jackson Dale (arguably the third-best GK in the class), and Joshua Brown and Fred Bond, two intriguing Atlanta United prospects. Niles and Mulvenna are two players that have been in camps and are quality players. It's good to see their inclusions.
On the other hand, some inclusions feel like wasted spots, and several key omissions (Lester, Mahteme, Castillo, Boney, Kouadio) remain puzzling. Overall, though, this is a positive step. U.S. Soccer is expanding the pool, giving new players a chance, and starting to identify who can raise the ceiling of the 2010 class.
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