CHICAGO (Feb. 9, 2017) – Portland Timbers forward Jeremy Ebobisse has been named to the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team by head coach Tab Ramos for the 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship, which doubles as the team’s 2017 World Cup qualifying tournament, running Feb. 17-March 5 in Costa Rica.
The USA has been drawn into Group B along with Panama, Haiti and Saint Kitts and Nevis. The U.S. opens against Panama at 4 p.m. ET on Feb. 18, followed by Haiti at 5:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 21and Saint Kitts and Nevis at 5:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 24. All three of the USA’s matches will be broadcast in the United States on Univision networks. Fans can also follow the action on twitter at @ussoccer_ynt.
Portland selected Ebobisse with the No. 4 overall pick in the first round, the team’s highest draft pick since taking midfielder Darlington Nagbe with the second overall pick in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft. Ebobisse, 19, played two seasons with Duke University (2014-2015) before signing a contract with MLS in 2016. In two years at Duke University (2014-15), Ebobisse tallied nine goals and seven assists in 38 games played (30 starts). Following two seasons with Duke, Ebobisse joined the Charleston Battery on loan in 2016, scoring against FC Montreal in his first start with the team on Sept. 7. Internationally, the Bethesda, Md., native has represented the U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team, scoring nine goals in eight appearances in 2016. Additionally, Ebobisse was named to the U.S. U-20 Men’s squad that competed at the 2016 Dallas Cup. At the club level, Ebobisse played for the Bethesda-Olney SC Academy, leading all USSDA players with 38 goals in 24 games in 2014.
Eleven players on the USA roster represent clubs in Major League Soccer: defenders Justen Glad (Real Salt Lake), Erik Palmer-Brown (Sporting Kansas City), Tommy Redding (Orlando City SC) and Auston Trusty (Philadelphia Union), midfielders Danny Acosta (Real Salt Lake), Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls), Craft Coy (FC Dallas), Jonathan Lewis (New York City FC) and Sebastian Saucedo (Real Salt Lake), and forwards Jeremy Ebobisse (Portland Timbers) and Brooks Lennon( Real Salt Lake).
Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Jonathan Klinsmann (University of California; Newport Beach, Calif.), JT Marcinkowski (Georgetown; Alamo, Calif.)
DEFENDERS (6): Marlon Fossey (Fulham F.C.; Surbiton, England), Justen Glad (Real Salt Lake;Tucson, Ariz.), Aaron Herrera (New Mexico; Casa Grande, Ariz.), Erik Palmer-Brown (Sporting Kansas City; Lee's Summit, Mo.), Tommy Redding (Orlando City SC; Oviedo, Fla.), Auston Trusty (Philadelphia Union; Media, Pa.)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Danny Acosta (Real Salt Lake; Salt Lake City, Utah), Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls; Wappingers Falls, N.Y), Coy Craft (FC Dallas; Frisco, Texas), Luca De la Torre (FulhamF.C.; San Diego, Calif.), Jonathan Gonzalez (CF Monterrey; Santa Rosa, Calif.), Jeremiah Gutjahr (Indiana University; Bloomington, Ind.), Jonathan Lewis (New York City FC; Plantation, Fla.), Sebastian Saucedo (Real Salt Lake; Park City, Utah), Eryk Williamson (University of Maryland;Alexandria, Va.)
FORWARDS (3): Jeremy Ebobisse (Portland Timbers; Bethesda, Md.), Brooks Lennon (Real Salt Lake; Paradise Valley, Ariz.), Emmanuel Sabbi (UD Las Palmas; Libertyville, Ill.)
Qualifying Format Change: The CONCACAF U-20 Championship format has changed for 2017 and now comprises three groups of four teams. Previous tournaments featured four groups of three teams or two groups of six teams.Under the new setup, the top two teams in each group will advance to a second-round classification stage, featuring two groups with three teams each. In this second group phase,the top two finishers in each group will qualify for the U-20 World Cup, with the first-place teams in each group playing for the tournament championship. Eyes on South Korea 2017: The U.S. has qualified for 14 FIFA World Youth Championships/FIFA U-20 World Cups and has its sights set on No. 15 in 2017. The 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea will be held from May 20-June 11 in Cheonan, Daejeon, Incheon, Seogwipo, Jeonju and Suwon. The final draw will be held on March 15. The USA’s best U-20 World Cup finish was a fourth-place performance at the 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship.
