Aidan Stokes (New York Red Bulls), William Lodmell (Sporting Lisbon)

Stokes reportedly turned down an invitation from England for their World Cup Qualifiers, where he could have been cap-tied. He likely declined the U.S. last month for the same reason. It will be interesting to see if he makes a decision ahead of the U-17 World Cup or opts out. Given the significance of the tournament, it seems unlikely that he would remain undecided.

Lodmell is an intriguing selection. He was part of an early U-15 camp when the 2008 class first began attending Youth National Team camps. I have yet to see him play, so hopefully, the games will be streamed to allow for further evaluation.

Jack Kortkamp (Sporting KC), Owen Pratt (LA Galaxy), William Mackay (Real Salt Lake)

All three goalkeepers from the World Cup Qualifying roster are absent, likely to allow Segares and his staff a chance to evaluate other options.

RB, Gio Villa (Real Salt Lake), RB, Olly Tan (Famalicão), LB, Zach Molomo (FC Dallas), LB, Miguel Alvarado (Colorado Rapids)

Villa is the only returning full-back from World Cup Qualifying and seems like a lock for the World Cup roster if available. Tan has been invited to multiple camps and remains in contention. Molomo’s inclusion is exciting—he has high upside and could become a key figure. Alvarado, on the other hand, returns after a long absence. I have yet to see him as a Youth National Team-level player.

RB, Wesley Okoduwa (Wolves), LB, Pedro Guimaraes (Orange County), LB, Jordan Griffin (Philadelphia Union)
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Okoduwa was not included in England’s U-17 roster for their upcoming World Cup Qualifiers and remains available to United States, England and Nigeria. It’s unclear whether he was not selected by England or if he declined to keep his eligibility open.

Guimaraes and Griffin, both part of the World Cup Qualifying squad, are likely omitted to allow evaluation of Molomo and Alvarado.

Ian James (Sporting KC), Micah Harris (Houston Dynamo), Kike Martinez (LA Galaxy), Bennett Wilp (Union Berlin)

James is among the top players in the 2008 class. He opted out of World Cup Qualifying to focus on first-team preseason, a reasonable decision. If available, he is a lock for the World Cup roster.

Martinez, the lone returning center-back from Qualifying, is likely competing for the final spot.

Harris, a reserve player from Qualifying, is left-footed and solid on the ball, giving him a chance to push for selection.

Wilp is a new name in U.S. Soccer circles. Having played in Germany since childhood, I scouted him live last year. He is another left-footed, ball-playing defender. While his physical attributes don’t suggest a high ceiling, he is reliable. It’s unclear if he can challenge for a World Cup roster spot, but his inclusion signals U.S. Soccer’s commitment to broad scouting.

Christopher Cupps (Chicago Fire), Ramiz Hamouda (Birmingham Legion), Adrian Sanders (LAFC), Nico Rivera (FC Cincinnati), Andrei Chirila (FC Cincinnati)

Cupps and Hamouda were key players in Qualifying, with Cupps a near-lock for the World Cup roster. James, Cupps, and Hamouda are the favorites to make the final squad.

Sanders has been absent for some time, which is surprising given his USYNT experience.

Rivera and Chirila are FCC players who could push for roster spots—Rivera is provisionally tied to Puerto Rico but might switch if the U.S. shows interest.

DM, Isaiah Kaakoush (FC Dallas), DM, Evan Lim (NYCFC), CM, Jack Mize (Borussia Dortmund), CM, Logan Moniz (Boston Bolts)
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Kaakoush returns after a lengthy absence and could push for a backup role.

Lim has been away for over a year.

Mize, recovering from injury, is a strong World Cup candidate due to his versatility.

Moniz, the only non-professional academy player, has resisted New England Revolution’s attempts to sign him to their academy.

DM, Chase Nagle (Chicago Fire), DM/CM, Jude Terry, (LAFC), CM, Cristiano Oliveira (New England Revolution), CM, Cooper Sanchez (Atlanta United), CM, Luca Moisa (Real Salt Lake)
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All four midfielders from Qualifying are absent, likely to assess new talent. Nagle, an alternate in Qualifying, is a surprising omission.

AM, Kellen Leblanc (Philadelphia Union), AM/W, Leo Gitau (Houston Dynamo), W, Mathis Albert (Borussia Dortmund), W, Vitaliy Hlyut (Chicago Fire), W, Eric Preston (LA Galaxy)
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Leblanc is the only returning player from Qualifying, still fighting for his spot.

Gitau was a Qualifying snub who adds needed dynamism.

Albert was invited but not released for Qualifying; he is a lock if available.

Hlyut declined Qualifying to maintain eligibility for Ukraine.

Preston is a newcomer and a left-footed winger.

AM, Maximo Carrizo (NYCFC), AM, Antonio Riquelme (Real Salt Lake), AM/W, Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia Union), W, Nimfa Berchimas (Charlotte FC), W, Jamir Johnson (Philadelphia Union), W, Lorenzo Cornelius (St. Louis City), W, Chance Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes)
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Carrizo (team captain), Johnson, Cornelius, and Cowell were at Qualifying but are absent.

Tanner Rosborough (New York Red Bulls)
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Rosborough, one of four returnees from Qualifying, looks to solidify his spot as the second striker behind Chase Adams.

Chase Adams (Columbus Crew), Julian Hall (New York Red Bulls), Austyn Jones (PSV)
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Adams gets a rest, while Hall likely declined due to first-team duties. Jones’ exclusion is a rare miss, given his recent scoring form at PSV and the lack of striker options in the pool.

RB, Wesley Okoduwa (Wolves), CF, Austyn Jones (PSV)

Okoduwa has expressed interest in the United States, but has not yet been in a camp. He isn’t with England, so unless he is injured, you would think the opportunity was there. This would have been the perfect time to get him into a camp. 

Jones, as stated above, would have been a great striker option to have more competition at that position.

CB, Bennett Wilp (Union Berlin), W, Eric Preston (LA Galaxy)

There aren't many players who deserve a call-up but haven't had a camp yet, so the low number isn't surprising. Wilp is an intriguing choice, though I'm unsure if he has the potential to break through. I need to evaluate Preston further, but given that the winger position was a weakness during Qualifying, he has a real opportunity to make an impact.

The roster is well-constructed but lacks a true number nine beyond Rosborough. Given limited striker options, Jones should have been included.

Segares continues to do a very good job balancing camps with first choice players and camps to explore the pool. He is going as good of a job as any USYNT coach in evaluation and experimentation. This roster effectively broadens the pool and I like that he is giving two new players their first team camp opportunity. It will be interesting to see which fringe players seize their opportunity.