Gavin Beavers, RSL
Charlie DeMarco, BW Gottschee
Emmanuel Ochoa, San Jose Earthquakes

Beavers and DeMarco are the favorites to be on this squad. Beavers is the backup for RSL, so there is a chance they don't release him, but my gut says they would. DeMarco will be playing U19 level for Gottschee until he enrolls at Georgetown during the fall of 2024 and will most likely be available. The U.S. are in a dual-nat battle with Venezuela for DeMarco and this is a great tournament to get him into a U.S. kit. Ochoa seems to have dropped on the depth chart for both the United States and Mexico.

RB, Reed Baker-Whiting, Seattle Sounders
RB, David Voute, PEC Zwolle
RB, Leo Duru, Blackburn Rovers
RB/LB, Nati Clarke, Sporting KC
LB, Curtis Ofori, RBNY
LB, Anthony de Anda, Austin FC
LB, Brandon Powell, Blackburn Rovers

This is one of the weakest position groups for this class and they could be without their best player, Reed Baker-Whiting. He doesn't have a primary role for Seattle, but he is their backup right-back and going into the playoffs and I highly doubt they wouldn't want him for the playoffs. This could be a great opportunity to get Dutch-American David Voute acclimated to the U.S. setup for the first time. He is playing for PEC Zwolle's U21 team and would likely be available. Ofori is probably the top LB option, but he has been injured for a long time and may not be fit in time. Nolan Norris is in the midfielder pool, but given the lack of LB talent, he may end up playing LB for this group. Nati Clarke might be a good backup option because he can play both sides. Anthony de Anda has recently come back from a long-term injury and has looked solid for Austin. I have not seen much of Duru or Powell, but maybe this is an opportunity to give them a look.

Joshua Wynder, Benfica
Tyler Bindon, Reading
Tiago Suarez, New England Revolution
Grayson Dettoni, Bayern Munich
Noah Cobb, Atlanta United
Drew Murray, Freiburg

This is another group that might be without their top guys. Wynder, the top CB from this age group should probably stay with Benfica B and continue to fight for a role. I think that is more important than this tournament. Bindon was becoming a starting CB for League One side Reading before picking up an injury. If he is still starting around this time he will not be released. That leaves Suares, Dettoni, Cobb and Murray as the likely candidates to make the roster. None are top prospects, but have some tools that intrigue me.

Noel Buck, New England Revolution
Obed Vargas, Seattle Sounders
Benja Cremaschi, Inter Miami
Niko Tsakiris, San Jose Earthquakes
Brooklyn Raines, Houston Dyanmo
Miguel Perez, St. Louis City
Sergio Oregel, Chicago Fire
Nolan Norris, FC Dallas
Ethan Kohler, Werder Bremen

The top four guys on this list are all important prospects for U.S. Soccer and it's likely that none of them will be available for this tournament. If Inter Miami and San Jose are out of the playoff hunt by the end of October, it's possible that both join the group, but otherwise I don't see any of these guys going. Brooklyn Raines is a very good prospect and likely would be available, as would the rest of the guys. Norris probably plays LB for this team but gives midfield flexibility.

Bora Aydinlik, Hull City
Esmir Bajraktarevic, New England Revolution
Kristian Fletcher, Swansea City
Serge Ngoma, RBNY
Luke Brennan, Atlanta United
Tyler Pasnik, Rangers
Favian Loyola, Orlando City
James Edmondson, Blackburn Rovers

This position group has a chance to be impactful for this team. Aydinlik probably does not make a one-time switch for this tournament, but one can dream. Bajraktarevic might be available and would be a fantastic option while Kristian Fletcher is very likely to be available. Ngoma has been injured all year, but maybe he gets back in the next month and shows enough to warrant a selection. Brennan and Loyola are solid domestic options that would be available, assuming Loyola recovers from a blood clot issue he was recently diagnosed with. Pasnik would be a nice European option to take a look at and Edmondson is a newly discovered dual-nat that seems to be rated highly by Blackburn. It's reported he is on the path to eligibility and he would be a fun option to see.

Guilio Misitano, Roma
Rodrigo Neri, Atletico Madrid
Nelson Pierre, Philadelphia Union
Marcos Zambrano-Delgado, Benfica
Matheus Guimarães Lucas, Flamengo

This group might end up being the most fun of any positional group on the rsoter. Misitano is working on his U.S. eligibility, but I doubt it's settled in time for this tournament. If by chance it is, he'd immediately be the top player on the squad. Neri is another exciting number nine prospect that should be available and selected. Pierre would be another great choice and would definitely be available. Zambrano-Delgado would likely be available as well and has been a consistent selection for this age group. A sleeper name is Matheu Lucas who plays at Flamengo. I have no idea if U.S. Soccer is aware of him, but from what I have seen he would be an exciting player to bring in.

I am preparing myself for an underwhelming roster given the timing of the tournament. It's possible that the majority of the top players are not available which would mean that this becomes a tournament to look at depth pieces for the next U20 cycle. For a scout like me, that is still a fun proposition, but it's not for everyone.

One way that U.S. Soccer could make it more interested is by extending this tournament to the 2004 age group. Players like Brandan Craig, Darren Yapi, Antonio Carrera, Alex Freeman, Thomas Williams, Korede Osundina, Zach Booth and Damion Downs could all potentially be available to play.