Head coach Marko Mitrovic has wasted no time getting his squad of youngsters back onto the field as he prepares some of them for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup later this year at six different venues throughout the Asian country of Indonesia.
The 23 players, all of whom will all be eligible for the tournament, met up on Thursday at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida and will spend the next eight days together as the young guns try to force their way into a roster spot to represent the USA in Asia this summer.
While most of them, with a few exceptions, have not been a part of the main U-20 group run by Mikey Varas, several of these players will be looking to make an impression and push their way into contention for selection to the tournament squad.
Of note is the first-time inclusion of FC Bayern youth product Grayson Dettoni, a towering 17 year-old central defender who has been a mainstay in the Bavarians’ team competing in the U19 Bundesliga.
Union Berlin forward Malick Sanogo was also included in the squad by Mitrovic, despite having been called up on several occasions for Varas with the U-20 team, most recently for a camp in February, 2022.
Scottish-American midfielder Tyler Pasnik is another surprise addition, after the Rangers FC youth player has proved to be a prolific scorer in the organization’s developmental setup.
The U-20 team reached the quarter finals of the 2019 World Cup in Poland the last time out, under the direction of Tab Ramos. The 2021 edition was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Mitrovic will hold camp with the team through January 13, before they are returned to their clubs.
THE ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS: Gavin Beavers (Real Salt Lake; Las Vegas, Nev.), Charles DeMarco (BW Gottschee; New York, N.Y.)
DEFENDERS: Kamran Acito (Duke University; New York, N.Y.), Reed Baker-Whiting (Seattle Sounders FC; Seattle, Wash.), Noah Cobb (Atlanta United FC; Chattanooga, Tenn.), Grayson Dettoni (Bayern Munich/GER; Munich, Germany), Drew Murray (Unattached; San Jose, Calif.), Nolan Norris (FC Dallas; Celina, Texas), Walter Portales (Club America/MEX; Los Angeles, Calif.), Fritz Volmar (St. Louis City SC; St. Louis, Mo.)
MIDFIELDERS: Favian Loyola (Orlando City SC; Orlando, Fla.), Bryan Moyado (LAFC; La Puente, Calif.), Sergio Oregel Jr. (Chicago Fire FC; Chicago, Ill.), Tyler Pasnik (Rangers/SCO; Bishopton, Scotland), David Ruiz (Inter Miami CF; Miami, Fla.), Sam Williams (University of North Carolina; Tenafly, N.J.)
FORWARDS: Kristian Fletcher (D.C. United; Bethesda, Md.), Korede Osundina (Orange County SC; Redmond, Wash.), Nighte Pickering (Memphis 901 FC; Frisco, Texas), Malick Sanogo (FC Union Berlin/GER; Berlin, Germany), Tarik Scott (FC Dallas; Dallas, Texas), Darren Yapi (Colorado Rapids; Denver, Colo.), Marcos Zambrano (Unattached; Gladwyne, Pa.)
Of the 23 on the roster, four belong to clubs outside of the USA and two currently are without a club.
