SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Tommy Thompson was among 20 players selected by head coach Tab Ramos to the roster that will represent the USA at the San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Tommy Thompson was among 20 players selected by head coach Tab Ramos to the roster that will represent the USA at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand, which runs from May 30-June 20.

Thompson, 19, has earned a total of 16 caps with the U.S. U-20s, tied for the most among all players on the roster headed for New Zealand. He was most recently called to the team’s second foreign training camp of the year in Austria from April 18-26, where he played 14 minutes in a 2-2 draw against Qatar and started and played 64 minutes in a 1-0 win over Croatia. He also played a critical role in the success of the U-20 national team in its qualifying for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup, helping lead the U.S. to a 4-1-1 record at the CONCACAF Championship in Jamaica. Thompson started all six games for the United States in the tournament and recorded a goal in an 8-0 win against Aruba on Jan. 14.

"I’m very excited about this particular group,” said Ramos. “It was very difficult making the final decision because there were quite a few players who deserved to go to the World Cup. Unfortunately, in the end I can only select a certain number and I’m very happy with the selections that we made.”

Ramos must fill out the final roster of 21 players by May 15, which is the deadline for submission to FIFA.

Players will begin reporting May 14 to the National Training Center in Carson, Calif. The group departs May 16 for training in Australia, where the remaining players will join the camp prior to arrival in New Zealand.

The U.S. was drawn into Group A with host New Zealand, Ukraine and Myanmar. The team opens group play against Myanmar at 12:01 am ET on May 30 in Whangarei, followed by matches with New Zealand on June 2 and Ukraine on June 5, both of which will be played in Auckland. All of the U.S.’s group matches will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1.

Roster by Position:

GOALKEEPERS (3): Jeff Caldwell (University of Virginia; Todd, N.C.), Ethan Horvath (Molde FK; Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Zack Steffen (Freiburg; Downingtown, Pa.)

DEFENDERS (6): Cameron Carter-Vickers (Tottenham Hotspur; Westcliff on Sea, England), Matthew Miazga (New York Red Bulls; Clifton, N.J.), Shaquell Moore (Unattached; Powder Springs, Ga.), Erik Palmer-Brown (Sporting Kansas City; Lee’s Summit, Mo.), Desevio Payne (FC Groningen; Greenwood, S.C.), John Requejo (Club Tijuana; Carpinteria, Calif.)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas; Plano, Texas), Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana; Chula Vista, Calif.), Russell Canouse (Hoffenheim; Lancaster, Pa.), Marco Delgado (Toronto FC; Glendora, Calif.), Emerson Hyndman (Fulham; Dallas, Texas), Joel Sonora (CA Boca Juniors; Buenos Aires, Argentina)

FORWARDS (5): Jordan Allen (Real Salt Lake; Rochester, N.Y.), Bradford Jamieson IV (LA Galaxy; Los Angeles, Calif.), Rubio Rubin (Utrecht; Beaverton, Ore.), Maki Tall (Red Star; Washington, D.C.), Tommy Thompson (San Jose Earthquakes; Loomis, Calif.)



The U-20 MNT capped off its World Cup Qualifying run at the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championship with four-straight wins. After opening the tournament with a 1-1 draw against Guatemala followed by a 1-0 loss to Panama, the team went on to defeat Aruba, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago to earn a playoff match with El Salvador. The U-20s were victorious against El Salvador and the 2-0 win secured them a spot in the 2015 U-20 FIFA World Cup.

Eleven players on this roster were a part of the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championship roster earlier this year.

The U-20 World Cup showcases some of the world’s best young talent. From the USA’s roster at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, nine players had previously played in a U-20 World Cup: Jozy Altidore, DaMarcus Beasley, Michael Bradley, Brad Davis, Clint Dempsey, Mix Diskerud, Tim Howard, Nick Rimando and DeAndre Yedlin.

The USA’s best finish at the U-20 World Cup came in Saudi Arabia in 1989, where the team finished in fourth place. In 2013, the USA was drawn into a group with Spain, eventual third-place finisher Ghana, and eventual 2013 U-20 World Cup champion France. While the U.S. played France to a draw, it was unable to advance past the group stage.

Roster Notes:

