Russell Payne, the current head coach for Northwestern University, will lead the U-21 team in two friendlies against Japan on March 27 and South Korea on March 31. This team's long-term endpoint is the 2028 Olympics and it's unclear who will eventually lead that team, though rumors suggest it will be current U-20 coach Rob Valentino. That team will feature 2005-born players and younger, while this team still features 2004-born players.
The roster
GK, Diego Kochen, FC Barcelona (2006)
GK, Gaga Slonina, Chelsea FC (2004)
RB, Reed Baker-Whiting, Nashville SC (2005)
RB, Ethan Kohler, New England Revolution (2005)
LB, Tate Johnson, Vancouver Whitecaps (2005)
LB, Nolan Norris, FC Dallas (2005)
CB, Noah Cobb, Colorado Rapids (2005)
CB, Thomas Williams, Nashville SC (2005)
DM, Santiago Castaneda, Paderborn (2004)
DM, Brooklyn Raines, New England Revolution (2005)
CM, Rokas Pukstas, Hajduk Split (2004)
CM, Jackson Hopkins, D.C. United (2004)
AM, Alan Carleton, Sandvikens (2005)
AM, Niko Tsakiris, San Jose Earthquakes (2005)
AM, Fernando Valenzuela, FC Cincinnati (2004)
W, Luke Brennan, Atlanta United (2005)
W, Korede Osundina, Casa Pia (2004)
W, Brandon Powell, Blackburn Rovers (2005)
CF, Damion Downs, Hamburger SV (2004)
CF, Darren Yapi, Colorado Rapids (2004)
Roster reactions
There are a good number of potential future USMNT players in this roster. Some of the most promising names include Diego Kochen, Gaga Slonina, Santiago Castaneda, Brooklyn Raines, Rokas Pukstas, Niko Tsakiris, Damion Downs and Darren Yapi. All of these players have the potential to be key players for the USMNT in the next World Cup cycle.
Brandon Powell and Alan Carleton are the two players receiving their first-ever USYNT call-up. It's late in the game to be getting your first YNT cap, but great to see nonetheless. Powell has been in Blackburn Rovers' youth setup for a while, playing as a left-back, wing-back and winger. He's listed as an attacker by U.S. Soccer.
Carleton has a pretty famous last name within USYNT circles. His brother, Andrew, was once viewed as a blue-chip prospect, but unfortunately didn't have the character and mentality to match his talent. Alan has a more modest reputation, but has been more steady in his career trajectory.
Kochen is the only 2006-born player on the roster, telling us what we already know — U.S. Soccer rates him highly. He's also been in senior team camps. Damion Downs is the only player with USMNT caps, though he's on a wretched goalscoring drought right now for club.
Thomas Williams and Darren Yapi are two 2004s I'm holding a lot of stock in. Williams hasn't been able to break through into a first-team role, but his talent and profile are worth waiting for. Yapi is playing out of position for Colorado Rapids as a winger instead of a striker, but is still producing with 2G/1A in four games.
There are two age-eligible players not here and with the senior team — Alex Freeman, a very likely World Cup player, and Chris Brady, who is fighting for one of the last goalkeeper spots on the World Cup roster.
Owen Wolff, Quinn Sullivan, Benjamin Cremaschi, Josh Wynder, Kristian Fletcher and Caleb Wiley are all players that would be first-choice candidates for this team, but have been out with injuries.
Frankie Westfield, a top 2005 right-back, was not released by his club, I'd assume.
There are two 2007s that will be in this player pool when available — Zavier Gozo and Peyton Miller, two of the top 2007s in the class. Gozo was likely not released and Miller is just returning from injury.
Roster grade: A
I've got no big issues with the roster. There are some 2006s I'd prefer over some of the 2004s and 2005s here, but I think U.S. Soccer is trying to get as many players active in the youth setup as possible. The U-21 will take a more future-facing shape as we near closer to the Olympics.
