United States U-17s vs. India U17s
2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup| Group A
Friday, Oct. 6 | 9:30 a.m. CT | FS2, Universo
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium | New Delhi, India
A banner year for Jaylin Lindsey is about to become even more profound.
The 17-year-old defender, who signed a Homegrown contract with Sporting Kansas City last month, has joined the U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in India. The biennial tournament raises its curtains Friday when the Americans face hosts India in New Delhi, kicking off at 9:30 a.m. CT on FS2 and Universo.
Lindsey has been a vital cog along for the U.S. throughout the year, serving as a right back under U-17 head coach John Hackworth. Having earned 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship Best XI honors in May after helping the team to a second-place finish, the Sporting KC Academy product is seeking similar success on the world stage as 24 countries descend on India for a competition that runs through Oct. 28.
Placed in Group A alongside India, Ghana and Colombia, the U.S. will play three total group stage matches over the next week. The top two teams from each of the six groups, as well as the four best third-place teams, will advance to the Round of 16. From there, countries will square off in a single-elimination format all the way to the final.
USA Group Stage Schedule
<strong>Date</strong> |
<strong>Opponent</strong> |
<strong>Time (CT)</strong> |
<strong>TV</strong> |
<strong>Stadium</strong> |
Friday, Oct. 6 |
India |
9:30am |
FS2 |
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium; New Delhi |
Monday, Oct. 9 |
Ghana |
6:30am |
FS2 |
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium; New Delhi |
Thursday, Oct. 12 |
Colombia |
9:30am |
FS2 |
Dr. DY Patil Stadium; Navi Mumbai |
Lindsey is one of six MLS Homegrown players on a roster highlighted by talented forwards in Andrew Carleton, Tim Weah and St. Louis native Josh Sargent, who played at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup in June. Sargent is set to become the second player in U.S. Soccer history to compete in both men’s youth World Cups in the same calendar year. He led the U.S. U-17s with five goals at the CONCACAF U-17 Championship, just ahead of Ayo Akinola’s four, and will sign with German Bundesliga club Werder Bremen next February when he turns 18.
The U-17s will hope to perform better this time around than the U.S. did in 2015, when the Americans went 0-2-1 in group play behind eventual champions Nigeria, Croatia and hosts Chile. The 2015 squad notably included Christian Pulisic of Borussia Dortmund — now a star on the senior national team — and Tyler Adams of the New York Red Bulls.
The USA’s best finish at the tournament came in 1999 when a side featuring Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley, Kyle Beckerman and Oguchi Onyewu reached the semifinals.
U.S. 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup Roster by Position
GOALKEEPERS (3): Alex Budnik (Sockers FC; Arlington Heights, Ill.), Carlos Joaquim Dos Santos (S.L. Benfica; Philadelphia, Penn.), Justin Garces (Atlanta United FC; Miami, Fla.)
DEFENDERS (6): Sergiño Dest (Ajax; Almere-stad, Netherlands), Christopher Gloster (New York Red Bulls; Montclair, N.J.), Jaylin Lindsey (Sporting Kansas City; Charlotte, N.C.), James Sands (New York City FC; Rye, N.Y.), Tyler Shaver (New York City FC; Greenwich, Conn.), Akil Watts (Portland Timbers, Fort Wayne, Ind.)
MIDFIELDERS (6): George Acosta (North Carolina FC; Hollywood, Fla.), Taylor Booth (Real Salt Lake; Eden, Utah), Christopher Durkin (D.C. United; Glen Allen, Va.), Blaine Ferri (Solar Soccer Club; Southlake, Texas), Chris Goslin (Atlanta United FC; Locust Grove, Ga.), Indiana Vassilev (Unattached; Savannah, Ga.)
FORWARDS (6): Ayo Akinola (Toronto FC; Brampton Ont.), Andrew Carleton (Atlanta United FC; Powder Springs, Ga.), Jacobo Reyes (C.F. Monterrey; Houston, Texas), Bryan Reynolds (FC Dallas; Little Elm, Texas), Joshua Sargent (St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri; O'Fallon, Mo.), Tim Weah (Paris Saint-Germain F.C., Rosedale, N.Y.)
