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's reportedly been out with an injury for a while. 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.
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'd prefer Ian James or Andre Chirila here over Martinez. 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. Chirila is another player who's earned more first-team experience in the last few months, and I'm unclear if his omission is a sporting decision or if he's joining a Romanian camp instead. He was reportedly on their U21 preliminary roster, but I don't believe the final roster is out yet. He's not on their U20 roster.
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.
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, if available, 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. That leaves Klapija as Segares' next option. Because this camp only has two games, he chose to bring only one true striker.
Roster grade: B-
It's a decent roster given all of the top players who've graduated beyond this level. 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. There are a handful of guys who were likely available but not selected who could have made this team more dynamic. 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 long tenure with U.S. Soccer.
