U-20 World Cup roster set after NWSL, college teams grant releases
The U.S. roster for the under-20 women’s World Cup in Poland features eight professional players from the National Women’s Soccer League and 13 from the NCAA, U-20 head coach Vicky Jepson announced Wednesday. During a news conference after the announcement, Jepson elaborated on the process — and the challenges — of selecting players for the roster and working with club decisions on whether to…
The U.S. roster for the under-20 women's World Cup in Poland has been finalized, featuring eight players from the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and 13 from NCAA teams, announced head coach Vicky Jepson on Wednesday. Jepson elaborated on the selection process and the challenges of coordinating with clubs regarding player releases.
Notable absences include NWSL players Melanie Barcenas and Onyeka Gamero, as well as Seattle Reign center back Jordyn Bugg, despite being previously invited to the U-20 camp. The omission of Barcenas is surprising, as her club, San Diego Wave, has not yet released her. Club decisions on whether to release players for the tournament played a crucial role in the final roster selection.
Jepson emphasized the respect for players' decisions and the collaborative efforts of NWSL clubs and colleges in releasing athletes. The U-20 World Cup, scheduled to begin September 5, represents the first tournament since FIFA president Gianni Infantino's controversial private investment proposal was scrapped, facing criticism from UEFA, Concacaf, and the Asia Football Confederation.
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