US/SC – Top 20 USMNT prospects born in 2004

1. WING, Luca Koleosho, Burnley

Grade: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇮🇹 🇨🇦 🇳🇬
USMNT Caps: 0

They hype around Koleosho remains, but the substance has been lacking a bit. He isn't tearing it up this season in the Championship after Burnely was relegated from the EPL and he is still getting called into Italy's U-21s, but rarely playing for them. He would likely be a winger depth option for USMNT if he decided to switch, but the interest on the U.S. side since Mauricio Pochettino has taken the head coaching job dimmed a bit and Koleosho does not seem overly excited to play for the United States. He is still young and may still end up being a high level player, but he needs time.

2. LB, Caleb Wiley, Strasbourg (on loan from Chelsea)

Grade: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸
USMNT Caps: 3

Wiley get his big move to Europe after a 10M+ move to Chelsea and he was immediately loaned out to their sister club, Strasbourg. He started his first two games for the French club, but suffered a knee injury and has just recently returned to action, coming off of the bench.

Wiley still has the look of a potential Jedi Robinson successor some day and a competitor for the LB2 position ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

3. GK, Chris Brady, Chicago Fire

Grade: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸
USMNT Caps: 0

Brady regressed a bit in 2024 after a solid 2023 campaign, his first as a MLS starter. Chicago's defense as a whole was a mess and that context needs to be considered when evaluation Brady's performance last season. Nonetheless, he needs a bounce back year in 2025. I believe he still has the potential to be a factor in the USMNT keeper room at some point in his career.

4. GK, Gabriel Slonina, Chelsea

Grade: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇵🇱
USMNT Caps: 1

Slonina's big move to join Chelsea's loan army has not netted great results for Slonina so far. His first loan in 2023 was to a bottom of the table Belgium club, Eupen, and while he performed okay, the club was relegated. This year he was loaned to League One club, Barnsley. He started the season off decently, with Barnsley only lowing two games with him in net, but he picked up an injury and has not been in the squad the last couple of games. Like Brady, Slonina still has USMNT keeper potential and there is a long way to go before we see where he ends up.

5. CM, Rokas Pukstas, Hajduk Split

Grade: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇱🇹
USMNT Caps: 0

Pukstas looked destined to leave Hajduk Split this summer, but a transfer never happened and now he is struggling for playing time. Now his value may have dropped and Split are in a bit of a pickle. Hopefully Pukstas gets his move and he can continue to progress his career. At times, Pukstas has looked like a player that could earn some USMNT caps.

6. CM, Owen Wolff, Austin FC

Grade: 4 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸
USMNT Caps: 0

Wolff has been a spot starter for Austin FC for a couple of years, often times playing out of position on the wing. His dad is no longer the head coach of Austin and it will be interesting to see if that changes his usage at all. Wolff still looks like he could be a very good MLS midfielder and may have the potential to play at a high level down the line.

7. LB, Noah Allen, Inter Miami CF

Grade: 4 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇬🇷
USMNT Caps: 0

Allen is stuck behind Champions League and Euro winner Jordi Alba. He got spot opportunities last year as both a left-back and left center-back. He looks like a future above average MLS starter.

8. GK, Antonio Carrera, FC Dallas

Grade: 4 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇲🇽
USMNT Caps: 0

Carrera went on a season long loan to USL Championship side North Carolina FC in 2024, but only started four games. It's tough for young goalkeepers to get first team opportunities and Carrera is experiencing that. I still believe he can be a good MLS starting goalkeeper.

9. CB, Brandan Craig, Philadelphia Union

Grade: 4 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
USMNT Caps: 0

Craig was loaned out to USL Championship club, El Paso Locomotive in 2024 where he started 17 games. He was not in the squad for the last eight. Philadelphia, has declined his option, but are said to be still negotiating to be potentially keep him around. No matter what happens there, Craig's career is not heading in the right direction.

10. AM/WING, Zach Booth, Excelsior

Grade: 4 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇮🇹
USMNT Caps: 0

Booth signed a three year contract with Dutch second division side Excelsior from Leicester City. Last year, he was loaned to a Dutch first division side, Volendam, albeit a bottom table Dutch first division side.

11. CF, Darren Yapi, Colorado Rapids

Grade: 4 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇨🇮
USMNT Caps: 0

Yapi spent another season as a squad player for Colorado Rapids, but started to add some goals to his game late in the season. Yapi has a lot of potential and if he can consistently score goals, he could have a big future in MLS and potentially beyond.

12. RB, Alex Freeman, Orlando City

Grade: 4 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸
USMNT Caps: 0

Freeman has as much talent as any player in this class, but his career has been completely mismanaged. There is no way that a player of his caliber should be playing three consecutive seasons in MLS Next Pro. That is a failure on the part of Freeman's representation and Orlando City. Freeman must find a higher level of competition next season. He has USMNT potential if he can a find better club situation.

13. CM, Quinn Sullivan, Philadelphia Union

Grade: 4 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇩🇪
USMNT Caps: 0

It's clear that I have Sullivan way too far down this list. I didn't foresee the impact he could have playing as a midfielder instead of being played out of position as a second striker. He had a very good season for Philadelphia Union last season and likely has suitors in Europe. The center-mid depth chart on the USMNT is deep, so it may be some time before Sullivan ever gets an opportunity on the first team. He will have to raise his level over the next few years.

14. CF, Damion Downs, FC Köln

Grade: 4 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇩🇪
USMNT Caps: 0

Downs is in his first full season as a full-time first team player and he done pretty well for himself. He is another player that I had rated too low. He has five goals and assist so far in 2. Bundesliga. If Köln fail to get themselves back in the first tier of German football, Downs may be doing enough to get himself up there next season. Is he a future USMNT player? I am not convinced, but I am not counting him out.

15. RB, Devan Tanton, Chesterfield

Grade: 3.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇨🇴
USMNT Caps: 0

Tanton has been loaned from Fulham to English fourth tier club, Chesterfield where he has earned over 500 minutes so far this season. I thought this was a pretty disappointing loan move for Tanton. I was expecting him to garner interest from a higher level league.

16. CB, Thomas Williams, Orlando City

Grade: 3.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸
USMNT Caps: 0

Williams, similar to Alex Freeman is stuck on Orlando's second team in MLS Next Pro. Williams isn't as high level of a prospect as Freeman, but he too needs to find a higher level to get his career on a better track.

17. CB, Tony Leone, Monterrey

Grade: 3.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇲🇽
USMNT Caps: 0

Leone is playing U-23 football for Mexican giant, Monterrey. It's hard to see what is next for him. Maybe he eventually finds first team minutes at a less prestigious Mexican club?

18. WING, Korede Osundina, FC Dodrecht

Grade: 3.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇳🇬
USMNT Caps: 0

Osundina is in his second season long loan to Dutch second tier club, FC Dodrecht, from Dutch giant Feyenoord. Osundina has been an outright starter for Dodrecht, scoring four goals and adding an assist so far this season. I would be shocked if he ever becomes a Feyenoord player, but he might impress enough to get an opportunity for a club in the bottom third of the Eredivisie.

19. CM, Jackson Hopkins, DC United

Grade: 3 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸
USMNT Caps: 0

Hopkins has consistently been a role player for DC United. Last year he struggled with injuries and started to play more as a midfielder than a winger. He could become a solid MLS starter.

20. CF/WING, Nathan Ordaz, LAFC

Grade: 3 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇸🇻 🇲🇽
El Salvador Caps: 3

Ordaz is no longer USMNT eligible as he is now a full El Salvadoran International. He never really had a legit future with USMNT. He has become a role player for LAFC and may become a solid MLS player somewhere down the line.

Other 2004s that have emerged

CB, Anrie Chase, Stuttgart

Grade: 4✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇯🇵
USMNT Caps: 0

Chase has been the biggest surprise over the last year from this class. I did not envision a scenario where he would be getting starts in the Bundesliga and minutes in the Champions League, but here we are. I think these milestones have inflated his stock a bit. I think he lacks some physical and technical tools to be a super high level center-back. He has more than held his own in the Bundesliga which is why USMNT fans are now calling for him to be recruited to the United States setup. I don't think he comes in and improves the center-back pool, but could provide good, young depth.

DM, Santiago Castañeda, Paderborn

Grade: 4✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇨🇴
USMNT Caps: 0

Castañeda is another prospect that has surprised many, becoming a consistent starter for a 2. Bundesliga club that is currently sitting at the top of the table. Castañeda is a solid and table player, but may lack the dynamism to be a long term option for the USMNT.

2004 Top 20

2004 Class at a Glance