In his press conference to discuss the United States U-20 World Cup roster, coach Mikey Varas repeatedly returned to his ultimate goal: to develop players from this group to graduate to the senior national team .
Of course, Varas would like to win the tournament, but success is not measured exclusively by results. They are results AND development. History shows that about half the squad should be expected to make at least one senior USMNT game, with a handful graduating to a World Cup squad.
Among the final USA U-20 World Cup squads:
• 10 players from the 2017 squad made at least one USMNT appearance.
• Four players from 2017 (Tyler Adams, Josh Sargent, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Luca de la Torre) were included in the 2022 World Cup senior squad.
• 11 players from the 2019 U-20 World Cup squad made at least one appearance for the USMNT.
• Two players (Sergiño Dest, Tim Weah) from 2019 made the senior World Cup squad and a third (Chris Richards) most likely would have if not for injury.
The USMNT’s annual January camp could help boost those numbers. With most of the first-choice squad unavailable for the annual camp during non-FIFA-mandated windows, the squad list is more experimental in nature and digs deeper into the pool to fill. Four of those 10 players included from the 2017 squad have made just one senior appearance. Five of the 11 players on the 2019 squad are nowhere near the first team right now.
With the second-youngest squad at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the USMNT won’t naturally be losing players from the pool at a high rate in the near future. That could mean fewer opportunities for this year’s U-20 players to break through. It’s also worth remembering that, with Ricardo Pepi and Paxten Aaronson among the age-eligible players not in the squad according to their clubs, this isn’t the strongest possible U-20 group.
Despite all that cold and hard undertone, the roster contains plenty of talented players, a number of whom have a good chance of making the senior squad.
These are the best bets to do so.
Gaga Slonina
goalkeeper, Chelsea FC18 years old
After a year as the first-choice goalkeeper in MLS, followed by a big move to Chelsea this winter, Slonina is perhaps the most popular player on the team. He will be the main choice between the sticks for Varas.
Slonina, who turns 19 next week, is one of the most expensive teenage goalkeepers of all time after his move from the Chicago Fire for an initial fee of $10 million with another $5 million in add-ons. He made 43 appearances for the Fire before moving to Chelsea in January.
He is a potential #1 goalkeeper for the USMNT one day. Matt Turner (28) is the current first choice, with Zack Steffen (also 28) among the main challengers for the spot.
Caleb Wiley
protector, Atlanta United18 years old
It’s been a dream start to 2023 for Caleb Wiley.
The Atlanta United native has become an indispensable starter in MLS, contributing three goals and two assists while splitting time between left wing and left back. Long-term, he projects as a left-back – that’s how clubs in Europe see him, and where he will mainly play for the U-20s.
“We anticipate Caleb to have a big tournament,” Varas told the media in a virtual press conference on Wednesday.
After presumed playmaker Antonee Robinson, the USMNT’s left wing depth chart is wide open. The current reserves are right-footed players capable of playing on the left (Joe With scalesSergino Dest), Wiley offers something more akin to Robinson: an overlapping attacking outlet on the left, allowing the winger (presumably Christian Pulisic, in the case of the USMNT) to cut in.
Wiley, 18, will be in Europe very soon. Atlanta already rejected a transfer offer for him last year. Many scouts will pay attention to him in Argentina.
Josh Wynder
Defender, Louisville City, 18
Center back Josh Wynder is playing in a squad as he is age eligible for the 2025 U-20 World Cup as well.
Currently with Louisville City, Wynder will soon join Benfica in a record USL league transfer this summer, with the Portuguese club winning his signature ahead of a number of MLS and European clubs this spring. Wynder just turned 18 this month but has already made 45 first-team appearances.
“Josh is obviously a very technical centre-back with a great physical profile,” said Varas. “What really surprised me, in the last camp he showed me that there is ‘wildness’ inside him as a defender. Your job is to be a physical player who wants to defend the goal. It takes a certain kind of personality.”
Kevin Paredes
Defender/midfielder, Wolfsburg19 years old
Kevin Paredes was thought of as a future left-back for the USMNT, but most of his minutes at Wolfsburg have been in left midfield after he broke through at DC United as a full-back. He is versatile, so he could still end up at left back, but will play as a winger for the USA U-20s.
Paredes has made 20 appearances in the Bundesliga this season, 19 of which came from the bench. His importance as a squad player to his club means he won’t join up with the United States until after the group stage. He joined Wolfsburg from DC United for a fee of $7 million in 2022.
With Paredes and Wiley as new options behind Robinson on the left wing, the national team should be covered there for the foreseeable future.
Cade Cowell
Winger, San Jose Earthquakes, 19 years old
Cade Cowell’s athleticism is already at an elite level. If he can perform his final third actions, he will be a regular in the senior national team. Even if he doesn’t, he’ll still have a chance because of his dynamism. He had the fastest sprint recorded in MLS last season, according to the Second Spectrum.
Cowell, 19, already has three USMNT senior caps. He played man-of-the-match against Serbia in January, albeit with both very weak squads due to the friendly outside the FIFA-mandated window.
The San Jose Earthquakes winger has made 92 MLS appearances, starting all 11 of the club’s games this season before heading to Argentina with the US U-20s. The Quakes rejected an offer from French Ligue 1 side Reims last summer for him.
Jack McGlynn
Midfielder, Philadelphia Union19 years old
Philadelphia Union midfielder Jack McGlynn has one elite skill that can translate to the international level: Distribution. Specifically, with his preferred left foot.
“McGlynn has a left foot that you can’t teach,” Jim Curtin told me in 2022. “It’s really special. I equate his passing ability with Haris (Medunjan). This is the best follower I have worked with. And Jack is there. His IQ is up there with (Alejandro) Bedoya, who has played in World Cups and in Europe. He has worked hard on defense, but he is special. He’s still growing, he’s getting stronger.”
McGlynn, 19, is already the Union’s best midfield passer and is among their best set-piece options. He will be a crucial part of the U-20 midfield. He has grown into his body and improved his athleticism over the last year or two, and if he keeps it up, he will be in the senior national team squad.
Obed Vargas
Midfielder, Seattle Sounders, 17 years old
The youngest player on the United States roster, Seattle Sounders midfielder Obed Vargas burst onto the scene last year playing a key role in the Sounders winning the CONCACAF Champions League as a 16-year-old.
Vargas, now 17, missed the second half of 2022 with a back injury, forcing him to miss the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship with the group.
Owen Wolff
Midfielder, Austin FC18 years old
Austin FC midfielder Owen Wolff has displaced key veteran Alex Ring to make his club’s starting XI. He was brought into the U-20 squad this cycle and could be in line for a big role at the World Cup.
“What we love about Owen, he has a fighting spirit,” Varas said. “He’s not afraid of a confrontation and, on top of that, he’s very good and very smart. You see that in MLS, how he struggled in the starting lineup this year.”
Wolff was linked with PSV earlier this year. He plans to make a big move to Europe within the next few years.
Daniel Edelman
Midfielder, New York Red Bulls20 years old
While the defensive midfielder isn’t thought to have as high a ceiling as others on this list, Daniel Edelman is already a consistent pro and could find himself on the fringes of the top group with his consistency if he continues to develop.
It would be a stretch to say he projects to be a first-time starter for the national team, especially with Tyler Adams occupying his position, but the depth behind Adams is unproven. Edelman is the USA U-20 captain and earned a starting spot in the New York Red Bulls’ competitive midfield last season. He fits very well in a pressing/transition system, which could be the direction the senior team goes in the future. If so, it’s not hard to see a scenario in which he gets several hats.
(Feature photo Robert Mora/ISI Photos/Getty Images))
