The roster
GK, Giorgio De Marzi, Roma (2007)
GK, Kayne Rizvanovich, Minnesota United (2007)
RB, Harbor Miller, LA Galaxy (2007)
LB, Pedro Guimaraes, Eintracht Frankfurt (2008)
LB, Josh Torquato, FC Dallas (2007)
CB, Christopher Cupps, Chicago Fire (2008)
CB, Ramiz Hamouda, SV Werder Bremen (2008)
CB, Kike Martinez, LA Galaxy (2008)
DM, Colin Guske, Real Salt Lake (2007)
DM, Cooper Sanchez, Atlanta United (2008)
CM, Snyder Brunell, Seattle Sounders (2007)
CM, Jonny Shore, New York City FC (2007)
CM, Ervin Torres, Austin FC (2007)
AM, Marvin Dills, Eintracht Frankfurt (2007)
AM, Xanti Oyharçabal, Athletic Bilbao (2007)
AM, Ruben Ramos Jr., LA Galaxy (2007)
W, Jaidyn Contreras, FC Dallas (2007)
W, Daniel Pinter, Inter Miami (2007)
W, Darius Randell, Minnesota United (2007)
CF, Din Klapija, RB Leipzig (2007)
Roster reactions
The depth of this U20 group is going to be tested for the rest of this cycle. A total of eight U20-eligible players were selected to their first United States Men's National Team camp this window — Mathis Albert, Justin Ellis, Zavier Gozo, Julian Hall, Adri Mehmeti, Peyton Miller, Neil Pierre and Cavan Sullivan. That's a wealth of talent that appears to be fully graduated beyond this level. Even if some of these guys don't immediately stick with the USMNT, the rest will become regulars for the U23 team that's preparing for the 2028 Olympics on home soil.
Goalkeepers
I think it's safe to say that De Marzi and Rizvanovich are the two preferred keepers for this U20 cycle, but I don't think we know yet who's GK1. Rizvanovich returns from the World Cup Qualifying roster where he was the starting keeper, but De Marzi wasn't there, so we still don't know who head coach Gonzalo Segares would select in a must-win competitive match.
Full-backs
Only one full-back returns from World Cup Qualifying — Josh Torquato. The only true right-back on the roster, Harbor Miller is safely assumed to be the top choice right-back. He reportedly wasn't released for World Cup Qualifying, but because this is an international window, he's able to join this camp. The other full-back is left-back Pedro Guimaraes, who Segares knows well from the last U17 World Cup cycle. It's possible he was preferred for World Cup Qualifying but wasn't released, as he was just getting his feet underneath him at his new club, Eintracht Frankfurt. The second-choice right-back from this age group is likely Drew Baiera from NYCFC, but he is recovering from an ACL injury and will not be back in training for NYCFC until January or February. My top left-back choice would be Dominik Chong Qui, but it seems clear that Segares doesn't rate him as highly as I do. Matty Dos Santos would have been another preferred option given the amount of first team experience he has gained this year, but he was selected to the U19 roster instead.
Peyton Miller is age-eligible for this group, but he's with the senior team right now and going forward he'd be with the U23s, not the U20s, so it's safe to consider him not an option for this team.
Center-backs
Segares has called in his three U17 World Cup selections for this camp — Cupps, Hamouda and Martinez. Cupps was the only one of the three who was at World Cup Qualifying. I rate both Cupps and Hamouda highly, but I would prefer Andre Chirila here over Martinez. Chirila has earned more first-team experience in the last few months, yet was still only called into the U19 roster. He turned down a Romania call up for that. Hopefully he will get his chance with the U20s soon. My highest rated 2008 center-back, Ian James, is also not here. He is both injured and does not seem to be rated by head coach Gonzalo Segares. James has the most MLS experience of any age-eligible center-back not named Neil Pierre, but Segares hasn't called James since before the U17 World Cup, over a year ago, so I don't expect him to be a factor in this U20 cycle unless Segares has a change of heart.
Pierre is the top age-eligible center-back, but he's also with the senior team and is now likely officially graduated beyond this level going forward.
Pivots
The group of pivots is strong with a lot of first-team experience. They should be a strength of this roster. I have no issue with any of the selections. All of them have a key role in MLS at the moment. The only player I rate ahead of some of the guys in this group, talent-wise, is Jude Terry. While LAFC isn't giving him the same opportunities as the guys in this roster, I believe he has more upside than many of those here. He will be with the U19s during this window.
Attacking-midfielders
I consider Dills, Oyharçabal and Ramos to be attacking-midfielders, but all have experience playing as pocket wingers for Segares. Dills and Oyharçabal are the top available players at this position for me.
Wingers
The winger group took the biggest hit of any position group from the promotions mentioned above. Albert, Hall, Gozo and Sullivan can all play on the wing. Contreras is the only returnee from World Cup Qualifying. Randell is the only surprise addition. He hasn't been in many camps, but he's been on fire in MLS Next Pro, and it's good to see him rewarded for that. Don't be surprised if he also gets played as a nine in one of the games. He'll bring much-needed pace to the attack.
There are two 2008 players who are with the U19s that I would have really liked to see here over the other options — Gabriel Wesseh and Eric Preston. Wesseh has impressed in Norway and is one of my top-rated 2008s. Preston has been outperforming one of the wingers selected in MLS Next Pro.
Another top age-eligible player is Nimfasha Berchimas, who was selected to the World Cup Qualifying roster but got injured early in the tournament and reportedly hasn't been back yet for Charlotte FC. The only other player I would have liked to see in this group is Aiden Hezarkhani. I'm not sure why he isn't here. I know RSL has two games during this window, so maybe Real Salt Lake asked Segares not to bring him.
Overall, it's a fairly weak winger group that didn't have to be that weak.
Center-forwards
The top two age-eligible options here are no longer at Segares' disposal — Ellis and Hall. The next two best options for me are Austyn Jones from PSV and Chase Adams from Columbus Crew, both 2008s. But instead, Segares goes with Klapija who fits his false nine preference for the position.
Roster grade: C+
Segares continues to prioritize his stylistic preference and system fit over giving the highest potential players opportunities. There are more dynamic players on the U19 in my opinion. Segares has a very clear profile of player he likes, and a very clear profile of player he doesn't — that's been clear over his overly long tenure with U.S. Soccer.
It's a decent roster given all of the top players who've graduated beyond this level and given the amount of experience many of these players are getting in MLS. Randell is probably the biggest surprise selection, and I think it's a good one. The rest of the roster are guys we know Segares rates.
