United States Under-20 men’s national team head coach Mikey Varas announced the 20-player roster for the 2022 Concacaf Under-20 Championship as the youth squad prepares to kick off next week.
The competition will run from June 18 to July 3 in Honduras, as the youth USMNT attempt to win their third consecutive Concacaf title. The top four teams of the tournament qualify directly to the 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup in Indonesia, while the top two nations are awarded a ticket to the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Varas’ squad sees an overwhelming MLS presence, with 17 of the 20 players currently featuring in the American league.
“At the end of the day the way we analyzed it was: Who’s playing at a high level for their club? Who is performing for the national team when they come in? Who fits from a cultural perspective is massive for us,” Varas explained in a virtual press conference Friday.
“At the end of the day, through the process of releases, we came to a very strong roster that we’re really excited about.”
Dual-nationality figure Obed Vargas headlines the roster for the American youth side, hinting at his potential senior team allegiance. His call up comes at no surprise after becoming a key figure for the Seattle Sounders at just 16-years-old.
But the player will only join the American team for the quarterfinals, missing Group E play on June 18 against Saint Kitt and Nevis, as well as the match vs. Canada on June 20 and Cuba on June 22. Because the tournament falls outside of a designated FIFA window, individual clubs hold seniority over the release of their players.
“At the end of the day the release situation is really challenging, but two positive things come from it. One, the players who are not released, it means they are becoming important players at their first-team level,” said Varas, a former FC Dallas assistant coach.
“And the players who come in with us because there was a player that wasn’t released, they get an opportunity to showcase themselves and show that they’re up for this challenge. So at the heart of what we work for is individual development and we see this as a win. Although it’s a challenge, it becomes an opportunity for us.”
Cade Cowell will also feature for the US youth team.
His inclusion comes after the San Jose Earthquakes player was rumored to be questioning his national team allegiance and chasing a Mexican passport. While his brother is currently on track with the Mexican national youth team, previously training with the U15 side, it looks like the older Cowell is staying put with the American team.
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