From U.S. Soccer

The finalized roster for the U.S. U17 Men’s National Team heading to the World Cup has been announced. A total of 21 players will travel to Nigeria under the tutelage of coach Wilmer Cabrera - 17 players born in 1992 and four born in 1993.

The U.S. will open Group E play in Kano, Nigeria against Spain on Monday, Oct. 26, at 2 p.m. EST. The team will stay at Sani Abacha Stadium to play Malawi on Oct. 29 at 11 a.m. EST before moving to Ijebu-Ode and Gateway International Stadium to finish the first round against United Arab Emirates on Nov. 1 at 10 a.m. EST. All three of the American’s group games will be televised live on ESPNU and Galavision.

Following a successful qualifying campaign in Tijuana, Mexico, in March, the U.S. has traveled to England, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Spain in 2009, facing the likes of Argentina, Uruguay, Gambia, Chile, Spain and Colombia. Cabrera’s side won the Copa Macae tournament in Brazil in July, and a trip to England concluded on Oct. 1 as Cabrera and his staff had one final chance to evaluate players before the roster was finalized.

The U.S. squad has scored 33 goals in 2009 in 16 games against international opponents. Included in that total are 12 goals scored in three games during the CONCACAF U-17 Championship in April. The potent attack is led by Jack McInerney, who leads the team with nine international goals in 11 appearances this year, including five in three games at the regional championship. Juan Agudelo, Andrew Craven and Stefan Jerome were also key parts of the offensive juggernaut during qualifying.  

Jerome and newcomer to U.S. Soccer’s Residency Program Victor Chavez both netted twice in the team’s most recent international game, a 5-0 win against fellow World Cup finalists Gambia in London. Chavez and Dominick Sarle both earned their place on the team late in the cycle, with both players traveling on the team’s most recent training camps to Miami and England.  

U.S. U17 Men’s National Team

GOALKEEPERS (3): Keith Cardona (NY Red Bulls Academy; Glen Rock, N.J.), Earl Edwards (Nomads SC; San Diego, Calif.), Spencer Richey (Crossfire Premier; Seattle, Wash.)

DEFENDERS (6): Zachary Herold (West Pines United FC, Port St. Lucie, Fla.), Perry Kitchen (Chicago Magic; Indianapolis, Ind.), Boyd Okwuonu (Celtic Green; Edmond, Okla.), Tyler Polak (CSA Legacy; Lincoln, Neb.), Jared Watts (North Meck SC; Statesville, N.C.), Eriq Zavaleta (FC Pride; Westfield, Ind.)        

MIDFIELDERS (6):  Marlon Duran (Latino Americana; Duncanville, Texas), Luis Gil (Pateadores; Garden Grove, Calif.), Carlos Martinez (Wilmington Jr.; San Pedro, Calif), William Packwood (Birmingham City, Concord, Mass.), Nicholas Palodichuk (Washington Premier; Battleground, Wash.), Alex Shinsky (Super Nova FC; York, Pa.)

FORWARDS (6): Juan Agudelo (NY Red Bulls Academy; Barnegat, N.J.), Victor Chavez (Real So Cal; Fontana, Calif), Andrew Craven (First Coast Kickers; St. Simons Island, Ga.), Stefan Jerome (West Pines United FC; Davie, Fla.), Jack McInerney (Cobb SC; Alpharetta, Ga.), Dominick Sarle (BW Gottschee; Huntington, N.Y.)