Tab Ramos calls in MLS-heavy squad for US U-20 national team's January camp

Tab Ramos broke news of the US Under-20 national team’s next roster on Friday, posting on Twitter his list of call-ups for a training camp in Florida this month.

Emphasizing the opportunity for newer faces to impress as he steers his team into the final stages of preparation for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which takes place in Poland in May and June, the coach noted that 14 of the 24 players called in did not take part in last fall’s qualifying campaign, which ended with the US U-20s’ second consecutive Concacaf championship triumph.

Six MLS clubs are represented in terms of first-teamers on the roster, with FC Dallas leading the way with three players: Jesus Ferreira, Paxton Pomykal (pictured above) and Brandon Servania, as well as academy product Mark Salas, currently at UNC.

The Philadelphia Union contribute two participants, Anthony Fontana and Matt Real, while D.C. United's Chris Durkin, Sporting Kansas City's Jaylin Lindsey and Toronto FC's Ayo Akinola also got the call. 

Two members of the recently announced Generation adidas class — UCLA's Frankie Amaya and Indiana's Griffin Dorsey — also made the cut. They were expected to compete in the combine but both players will now be in Orlando for medicals and performance testing, before departing for Sarasota. They will return on Jan. 8 for player interviews and will play in the final match on Jan. 9 prior to attending the SuperDraft.

Products of several other MLS academies are taking part, including those from Atlanta United, Columbus Crew SC, LA Galaxy, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, Real Salt Lake and Seattle Sounders youth systems.

Ramos also revealed that his former US national teammate Tony Meola, former Chicago Fire and Montreal Impact head coach Frank Klopas and longtime youth national teams coach Omid Namazi will comprise his technical staff for this camp.

The team is set to play two matches during the camp as they will face a US Under-19 squad on Jan. 8 at 4 pm ET and a still to be determined opponent on Jan. 12 at 4 pm ET.

US U-20 roster