U-19 USYNT September Roster Analysis
August 2025
The 2007 team is back together after winning the UEFA Friendship Cup last summer. That group was led by Marlon LeBlanc, while this camp will be under another highly regarded youth coach, Shaun Tsakiris. This 2007 class will become the focal point of the U-20 cycle once the current cycle concludes later this year at the U-20 World Cup. Could Tsakiris be the one to lead that next cycle? It’s possible. The current U-20 coach, Marko Mitrović, may be in line for an MLS head coaching job, following a path similar to Mikey Varas, who has done well since taking over at San Diego FC.
Jykese Fields, center-forward for Hoffenheim
The roster
GK – Kayne Rizvanovich (2007)
GK – Zack Campagnolo, Colorado Rapids (2007)
GK – Jacob Molinaro, Sporting KC (2007)
RB – Drew Baiera, NYCFC (#8 2007 prospect)
RB – Harbor Miller, LA Galaxy (#17 2007 prospect)
CB – Neil Pierre, Philadelphia Union (#4 2007 prospect)
CB – Jose Magana Jr, LA Galaxy (2007)
CB - Chris Applewhite, Nashville SC (2007)
CB – Kaiden Moore, Philadelphia Union (2007)
LB – Dominik Chong-Qui, Atlanta United (#12 2007 prospect)
LB – Tristan Brown, Columbus Crew (#19 2007 prospect)
DM – Colin Guske, Orlando City (2007)
DM – Ervin Torres, Austin FC (2007)
DM – Eric Izoita, Portland Timbers (2007)
CM – Snyder Brunell, Seattle Sounders (2007)
CM – Jonny Shore, NYCFC (#18 2007 prospect)
CM – Dylan Vanney, LA Galaxy (2007)
AM – Santiago Morales, Inter Miami (2007)
AM – Ruben Ramos, LA Galaxy (2007)
WING – Daniel Pinter, Inter Miami (2007)
WING – Santiago Pita, Atlanta United (2007)
CF – Justin Ellis, Orlando City (#5 2007 prospect)
CF – Din Klapija, RB Leipzig (#20 2007 prospect)
CF – Jykese Fields, Hoffenheim (2007)
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
GK, Giorgio De Marzi, Roma (2007)
Still waiting for De Marzi to get his first look with U.S. Soccer.
LB, Peyton Miller, New England Revolution (#1 2007 prospect)
My top-rated 2007 player. He’s competing for a U-20 World Cup spot, but since he wasn’t in that squad, I assume he wasn’t released by New England.
CB, Jackson Platts, Orlando City (2007)
One of the standouts at the UEFA Friendship Cup. Surprising not to see him included.
DM, Sebastian Rodriguez, Houston Dynamo (2007)
Defensive midfield depth is thin in this class, and I rate Rodriguez ahead of a few regular call-ups.
CM, Darius Lane, Brighton (#14 2007 prospect)
Likely injured — he also wasn’t in the last squad and hasn’t yet featured for Brighton’s U-21s this season.
AM, Marvin Dills, Eintracht Frankfurt (#7 2007 prospect)
Player of the tournament at the Friendship Cup. No way he wasn’t invited — my guess is Frankfurt didn’t release him.
AM, Gavin Turner, Chattanooga FC (#10 2007 prospect)
Seems to have slipped down the depth chart, but I still think he belongs.
AM/W, Zane Okoro, Lincoln City (#15 2007 prospect)
Probably the top 2007 player never called into a U.S. camp.
Wing, Zavier Gozo, Real Salt Lake (#2 2007 prospect)
The lone 2007-born player on the U-20 roster and a strong candidate for the 2025 U-20 World Cup, playing a full cycle up.
Player receiving first camp
GK – Jacob Molinaro, Sporting KC (2007)
Solid player in a relatively weak goalkeeper class. Good to see him get an opportunity.
CB - Chris Applewhite, Nashville SC (2007)
Well regarded at Nashville. Deserves his USYNT chance.
DM – Eric Izoita, Portland Timbers (2007)
Another solid addition competing in an unsettled defensive midfield group.
CM – Dylan Vanney, LA Galaxy (2007)
Son of Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney.
Roster grade: B
It’s difficult to fully evaluate this roster without knowing which players were and weren’t released. Since this is a domestic camp, many European-based players likely stayed with their clubs despite being invited. There are also six 2007s training with the U-20 “B team.”
The biggest disappointments are not seeing De Marzi and Okoro, who could be difference-makers for this group. Turner’s continued absence is also frustrating.
That said, I really like the back line — especially the four fullbacks, all top-20 players in this class. The midfield and wide attackers remain areas of concern; the group lacks the dynamic profiles you’d ideally want, though there are some technically sound, intelligent players.
The striker pool, however, is exciting. Ellis has been excellent for this team, Klapija is highly talented, and Fields adds a more vertical option up top.
Overall, this is a solid group with a few holes. Great to see Shaun Tsakiris back on the touchline, and I hope he’s in line to lead the next U-20 cycle.
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