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United States U-17 kick-off FIFA U-17 World Cup preparations in the Czech Republic

U.S. Soccer

The United States U-17 national team will kick-off their preparations for the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 at the 2017 Vaclav Jezek Youth Tournament in Prague, Czech Republic today.

Head coach John Hackworth has named a 22-player squad which face Hungary (August 22), Russia (August 23) and Japan (August 24) in Group B of the eight nation tournament. The tournament will conclude on August 26 with the placement play-off matches including the final.

“Following our two recent domestic training camps, this tournament will challenge our team with four tough international matches in five days,” Hackworth told the official U.S. Soccer website. “We were able to get almost all of the players we requested released for this trip, so that will help us as we continue to prepare for the World Cup in India.”

The United States has been grouped with host India, Ghana and Colombia in the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017. The USA kicks off with the first game of Group A against India at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on October 6.

USA U-17 SQUAD

Goalkeepers
Carlos Joaquim Dos Santos (S.L. Benfica; Philadelphia, Penn.), Justin Garces (Atlanta United FC; Miami, Fla.)

Defenders
Carlos Asensio (Atlanta United FC; Roswell, Ga.), Christopher Gloster (New York Red Bulls; Montclair, N.J.), Jaylin Lindsey (Sporting Kansas City; Charlotte, N.C.), James Sands (New York City FC; Rye, N.Y.), Tyler Shaver (New York City FC; Greenwich, Conn.), Arturo Vasquez (FC Golden State; Mira Loma, Calif.), Akil Watts (Portland Timbers; Fort Wayne, Ind.)

Midfielders
George Acosta (North Carolina FC; Hollywood, Fla.), Taylor Booth (Real Salt Lake; Eden, Utah), Christopher Durkin (D.C. United; Glen Allen, Va.), Blaine Ferri (Solar Chelsea SC; Southlake, Texas), Chris Goslin (Atlanta United FC; Locust Grove, Ga.), Alex Mendez (LA Galaxy; Los Angeles, Calif.), Indiana Vassilev (Unattached; Savannah, Ga.)

Forwards
Andrew Carleton (Atlanta United FC; Powder Springs, Ga.), Ulysses Llanez (LA Galaxy; Lynwood, Calif.), Alejandro Pereira (Orlando City SC; Oviedo, Fla.), Jacobo Reyes (C.F. Monterrey; Monterrey, Mexico), Josh Sargent (Scott Gallagher Missouri; O’Fallen, Mo.), Timothy Weah (Paris Saint-Germain F.C.; Rosedale, N.Y.)