San Jose Earthquakes forward Tommy Thompson was among the 20 players called to U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team duty for the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championship running Jan. 9-24 in Jamaica.
The USA has been drawn into Group A along with Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Aruba, Panama and Guatemala. The U.S. opens against Guatemala on Jan. 9, followed by Panama (Jan. 11), Aruba (Jan. 14), Jamaica (Jan. 18) and Trinidad & Tobago (Jan. 21). All five of the USA’s matches will be broadcast on Fox Sports 2. Fans can also follow the action on twitter at @ussoccer_ynt.
Thompson, 19, has 7 caps with the U.S. U-20s. He most recently scored in a friendly against Honduras U-20s in early December. Thompson scored in his national team debut, a 4-0 win against Bermuda on July 16, and logged 90 minutes in a scoreless draw against Australia on July 18 to help the Americans win the NTC Invitational earlier this year. He also made three appearances, including two starts, for the USA in the Spanish-hosted Marbella Tournament. The Loomis, Calif. native signed as the club’s first Homegrown Player on Jan. 22, 2014 and made 13 appearances in his inaugural season. He also became the second-youngest player in club history to start a game when he took the field in Seattle on Aug. 20, 2014 at 19 years, 5 days old.
The U-20 MNT had a 6-1-2 international record in 2014, highlighted by their championship run at the 2014 National Training Center Invitational in July.
Four countries will directly qualify from the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 tournament for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand. The USA is looking to qualify for its 14th trip to a FIFA World Youth Championship or FIFA U-20 World Cup.
U.S. U-20 MNT Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Ethan Horvath (Molde FK), Zack Steffen (SC Freiburg)
DEFENDERS (6): Cameron Carter-Vickers (Tottenham Hotspur), Conor Donovan (N.C. State), Matt Miazga (New York Red Bulls), Shaquell Moore (Unattached), John Requejo (Club Tijuana), Tyler Turner (Orlando City)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Fernando Arce (Club Tijuana), Russell Canouse (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim), Junior Flores (Borussia Dortmund), Romain Gall (Columbus Crew), Lynden Gooch (Sunderland), Emerson Hyndman (Fulham)
FORWARDS (5): Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana), Bradford Jamieson IV (LA Galaxy), Amando Moreno (Club Tijuana), Ben Spencer (Molde FK), Tommy Thompson (San Jose Earthquakes)
