For its first gathering since the draw for the 2015 U-17 World Cup, Coach Richie Williams has named a 20-player squad for the U-17 Vaclav Jezek Youth Tournament in the Czech Republic,where the USA faces Russia (Aug. 18), Slovenia (Aug. 19) and Slovakia (Aug. 21) in group play.
A final placement game takes place Aug. 22
Nineteen of the players chosen were in the20-player U-17 Concacaf Championship squad that qualified for the World Cup in March with a third-place finish. The newcomer is Pennsylvannia product Auston Trusty. Not in the currentsquad of the players on the qualifying roster is Texan Mckinze Gaines.
Trusty, who has committed the University of North Carolina, played with the PhiladelphiaUnion’s U-18/17 and U-16/15 Development Academy teams during the 2014-15 seasons.
At the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile that kicks off in October, the USA faces Nigeria, Croatiaand Chile in group play.
U.S. U-17 boys roster
GOALKEEPERS (2): William Pulisic (Richmond United; Mechanicsville, Va.), Kevin Silva(Players Development Academy; Bethlehem, Pa.).
DEFENDERS (7): Hugo Arellano (LA Galaxy Academy; Norwalk, Calif.), Danny Barbir (West Bromwich Albion; Allentown, Pa.), TannerDieterich (Real Salt Lake Academy; Nashville, Tenn.), John Nelson (Internationals; Medina, Ohio), Matthew Olosunde (New York Red Bulls Academy; Trenton, N.J.), Auston Trusty (Philadelphia UnionAcademy; Media, Pa.), Alexis Velela (New York Cosmos; San Diego, Calif.).
MIDFIELDERS (6): Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls II; Wappinger Falls, N.Y.), Eric Calvillo (Real SoCal; Palmdale, Calif.), Luca de la Torre (Fulham; San Diego, Calif.), Thomas McCabe (Players Development Academy; South Orange, N.J.), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund; Hershey, Pa.), AlejandroZendejas (FC Dallas; El Paso, Texas).
FORWARDS (5): Pierre da Silva (Orlando City SC Academy; Port Chester, N.Y.), Joe Gallardo (C.F. Monterrey; San Diego, Calif.), Josh Perez(Unattached; La Habra, Calif.), Brandon Vazquez (Club Tijuana; Chula Vista, Calif.), Haji Wright (New York Cosmos; Los Angeles, Calif.).