United States U-20 MNT vs. Ecuador U-20 MNT
2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup | Group F – Game 1 of 3
Monday, May 22, 3 a.m. CT | FS1, Telemundo
Incheon Stadium | Incheon, Korea Republic
Sporting Kansas City defender Erik Palmer-Brown is set to captain the United States U-20 Men’s National Team in Korea Republic as the Americans kick off their 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup campaign Monday against Ecuador in Incheon. The match will be televised live at 3 a.m. CT on FS1 and Telemundo.
Palmer-Brown, 20, wore the armband during the United States’ run to CONCACAF U-20 Championship glory in February and March, winning the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. He will hope to translate that momentum into success during his second U-20 World Cup journey, having helped the U.S. to a quarterfinal finish in 2015 before losing to eventual champions Serbia in a penalty kick shootout after a scoreless draw.
Three players from the 2015 squad have returned to head coach Tab Ramos’ roster for another go-around in Korea Republic, as Palmer-Brown is joined by Tottenham Hotspur defender Cameron Carter-Vickers and Arsenal midfielder Gedion Zelalem.
The U.S. is one of 24 countries competing at the U-20 World Cup and was drawn into Group F alongside Ecuador, Senegal and Saudi Arabia. Ramos’ side will face Senegal on Thursday (6 a.m. CT) before rounding out the group stage next Sunday against Saudi Arabia (4 a.m. CT). Each match will be televised live on FS1.
The top two finishers in each of the six groups, as well as the four best third-place finishers, will advance to the knockout stages, which begin with the Round of 16 between May 30 and June 1. The final will be played on Sunday, June 11 at Suwon World Cup Stadium.
Fifteen of the U.S. roster’s 21 players were part of the team that won the CONCACAF U-20 Championship more than two months ago. Seventeen players have ties to the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, including Palmer-Brown, who spent four seasons with the Sporting KC Academy before joining the first team in 2013 as the club’s third-ever Homegrown signing.
Palmer-Brown is also one of nine MLS players to adorn the squad, alongside Real Salt Lake quartet Danny Acosta, Justen Glad, Brooks Lennon and Sebastian Saucedo, as well as Tommy Redding (Orlando City SC), Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls), Derrick Jones (Philadelphia Union) and Jeremy Ebobisse (Portland Timbers). The youngest player in the group is 17-year-old Josh Sargent, a St. Louis native who guided the U.S. U-17 MNT to a second-place finish at the CONCACAF U-17 Championship earlier this month.
The U.S. has participated in 14 of the previous 20 FIFA U-20 World Cups, with its best finish coming in 1989 when the Americans placed fourth. Since the turn of the century, the U.S. has reached the quarterfinals on three occasions, in 2003, 2007 and 2015.
Monday’s opponent qualified for the U-20 World Cup by finishing second at the 2017 South America Youth Football Championship. Ecuador played nine qualifying matches from January to February, picking up wins against the likes of Argentina and Colombia in the process. The 21-man roster includes seven players from domestic powerhouse Independiente del Valle. Forward Bryan Cabezas, who led Ecuador with five goals during qualifying, plies his club trade for Atalanta in Italy’s Serie A. This marks La Tri’s third U-20 World Cup appearance, having previously participated in 2001 and 2011.
U.S. U-20 MNT 2017 World Cup Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Jonathan Klinsmann (University of California; Newport Beach, Calif.), J.T. Marcinkowski (Georgetown; Alamo, Calif.), Brady Scott (De Anza Force; Petaluma, Calif.)
DEFENDERS (7): Danny Acosta (Real Salt Lake; Salt Lake City, Utah), Cameron Carter-Vickers (Tottenham Hotspur FC; Westcliff-on-Sea, England), Justen Glad (Real Salt Lake; Tucson, Ariz.), Aaron Herrera (University of New Mexico; Las Cruces, N.M.), Erik Palmer-Brown (Sporting Kansas City; Lee's Summit, Mo.), Tommy Redding (Orlando City SC; Oviedo, Fla.), Auston Trusty (Philadelphia Union; Media, Pa.)
MIDFIELDERS (5): Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls; Wappingers Falls, N.Y.), Luca De La Torre (Fulham FC; San Diego, Calif.), Derrick Jones (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.), Eryk Williamson (University of Maryland; Alexandria, Va.), Gedion Zelalem (Arsenal FC; Bethesda, Md.)
FORWARDS (6): Jeremy Ebobisse (Portland Timbers; Bethesda, Md.), Lagos Kunga (Atlanta United FC Academy; Tucker, Ga.) Brooks Lennon (Real Salt Lake; Paradise Valley, Ariz.), Emmanuel Sabbi (Unattached; Columbus, Ohio), Josh Sargent (St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri; O'Fallon, Mo.), Sebastian Saucedo (Real Salt Lake; Park City, Utah)
