Rongen's squad features 14 pro players, the most ever for a U.S. Under-20 World Cup team. It includes Michael Bradley, who is playing for the senior national team at the Gold Cup, Freddy Adu, who has already played in two U-20 world championships, and Josmer Altidore, the youngest player on the team at age 17.
"We looked at about 80 players and narrowed it down to 21," said Rongen. ""We feel that through playing games in qualifying and through camps, that we have a good handle on this age group and that we've made some great selections for this team to go forward and hopefully do something special during the World Cup."
The Columbus Crew (Tim Ward, Robbie Rogers and Danny Szetela) and UCLA (Tony Beltran, Sal Zizzo and Brian Perk) lead all teams with three players apiece on the final U-20 roster.
Only two players who participated in qualifying did not make the final squad: Quavas Kirk and Jonathan Villanueva. One of the late additions to the team is New Yorker Gabriel Ferrari of Italian Serie A club Sampdoria.
The U.S. plays South Korea, Poland and Brazil in Group D. This is the sixth straight appearance for the U.S. in the world championship and their 11th overall. Rongen took the USA to the quarterfinals in 2003. Adu was a starter on that team.
The U-20s will arrive in Somerset, N.J., on June 17 for training before departing for Montreal. The team will also play a preparation game against Chile at Giants Stadium on June 23.
U.S. U-20 ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS
18 Brian Perk UCLA
21 Steve Sandbo SMU
1 Chris Seitz Real Salt Lake (MLS)
DEFENDERS
4 Amaechi Igwe New England Revolution (MLS)
13 Ofori Sarkodie Indiana University
5 Nathan Sturgis L.A. Galaxy (MLS)
16 Julian Valentin Wake Forest
2 Tim Ward Columbus Crew (MLS)
MIDFIELDERS
11 Freddy Adu Real Salt Lake (MLS)
3 Bryan Arguez D.C. United (MLS)
19 Tony Beltran UCLA
6 Michael Bradley Heerenveen (Netherlands)
10 Dax McCarty FC Dallas (MLS)
7 Danny Szetela Columbus Crew (MLS)
14 Anthony Wallace FC Dallas (MLS)
FORWARDS
20 Andre Akpan Harvard
12 Josmer Altidore N.Y. Red Bulls (MLS)
17 Gabriel Ferrari Sampdoria (Italy)
8 Robbie Rogers Columbus Crew (MLS)
9 Johann Smith Bolton Wanderers (England)
15 Sal Zizzo UCLA
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