The CONCACAF U-20 Championship starts next Friday. The USSF has released the roster for the tournament, which serves as a qualification for the 2017 U-20 World Cup.
CONCACAF has changed the format of the tournament again in a way that I think will benefit the US.
1) Three groups of four play a single round robin, the top two in each group advance
2) Two groups of three play a single round robin, the top two in each group qualify for the U20 WC
3) The two group winners from stage 2 play a final
Since you can qualify without winning the first or second group stage, it's a format that is forgiving of a hiccup.
The US has never won the CONCACAF U20s outright, though we have been "co-champions" a few times from 1998-2007 when there were multiple qualifying groups and no final match. Outside of that time period, we've been runners-up six times.
The roster:
GK
Jonathan Klinsmann (University of California)
J.T. Marcinkowski (Georgetown)
DF
Danny Acosta (Real Salt Lake)
Marlon Fossey (Fulham)
Justen Glad (Real Salt Lake)
Aaron Herrera (University of New Mexico)
Erik Palmer-Brown (Sporting Kansas City)
Tommy Redding (Orlando City)
Auston Trusty (Philadelphia Union)
MF
Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls)
Luca de la Torre (Fulham)
Jonathan Gonzalez (Monterrey)
Jeremiah Gutjahr (Indiana University)
Sebastian Saucedo (Real Salt Lake)
Eryk Williamson (University of Maryland)
FW
Coy Craft (FC Dallas)
Jeremy Ebobisse (Portland Timbers)
Brooks Lennon (Real Salt Lake)
Jonathan Lewis (New York City FC)
Emmanuel Sabbi (Las Palmas)
It's a weird roster. CB is strong, even in the absence of Cameron Carter-Vickers. EPB is the captain, both Glad and Redding have good pro experience compared to past U20 CBs. Fullback is a big concern. Fossey is a converted winger who is good going forward, but is still figuring it out defensively. I'm not sure Herrera is any great shakes. And there are zero natural LBs on the roster. Based on the fact that he's listed as a defender, I'm going to guess that DM Danny Acosta will play LB? I don't know.
Adams will anchor the midfield at DM. De la Torre looked like a classy midfielder for the U17s, but it's hard to know how he's progressed at Fulham. Gutjahr, a part-time starter at Indiana last year, is a head-scratcher. Williamson is a Ramos favorite who can fill several roles in the midfield. DC tried to sign him this winter, but he seems to have his eyes on Europe. Saucedo should be the #10. Gonzalez is a little mysterious to me, but like Adams he's playing up a cycle and is supposed to be good.
I expect Ebobisse to lead the line, with the other guys listed as forwards as outside attackers in a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3.
Some notables who aren't on the roster due to injury and/or unavailability and/or Tab doesn't like them:
GK Justin Vom Steeg (Fortuna Düsseldorf)
RB Reggie Cannon (FC Dallas)
RB Matthew Olosunde (Manchester United)
CB Cameron Carter-Vickers (Tottenham Hotspur)
CB Miles Robinson (Atlanta United)
LB Marcello Borges (University of Michigan)
CM Gedion Zelalem (VVV Venlo)
CM Weston McKennie (Schalke)
CM Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes)
CM Cameron Lindley (University of North Carolina)
AM Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund)
AM Josh Perez (Fiorentina)
AM Mukwelle Akale (Villarreal)
AM Nick Taitague (Schalke)
AM McKinze Gaines (Wolfsburg)
FW Brandon Vazquez (Atlanta United)
FW Haji Wright (Schalke)
FW Kai Koreniuk (Vitesse)