CARSON, California - While college soccer’s direct role with the World Cup roster of the U.S. U20 Men’s National Team is diminishing, the indirect role of the scholastic game is paying some unexpected dividends. 

Desevio Payne, a recent addition to the Federation, is a perfect example of how college soccer is still influencing the U.S. team. The defender from FC Groningen has a familial tie with the collegiate game that helped him end up on the U.S. national team. 

“My parents went to school at Lander in Greenwood, South Carolina,” Payne told TopDrawerSoccer. “They met there. My dad had a scholarship there. I was born there and then we stayed there briefly before we moved to the Netherlands.” 

Lander is a NCAA Division II school with enrollment of just over 3,000 students. Payne’s mother went there from the Netherlands and played softball for the Bearcats. Payne’s father, who is from Trinidad, played soccer at Lander.  

That brief time in the States for the family opened the door for Payne to represent his birth nation on the international stage, which has all come to the forefront in the past few months.  

“When I made my debut [on Feb. 22], [USSF] discovered me,” Payne said about the path to the U.S. World Cup squad. “I first got a call that they were looking at me. That was really nice. I played my second game with the first team and then I received a call that I could go to the England camp and that was amazing.”

The camp in London from March 23-30 was an important one for Tab Ramos and his coaching staff. Fifteen of the 21 players at the camp ended up on the World Cup roster. For Payne and Maki Tall, it was their first time in camp with the U.S. national team and likely one of the few chances they had at fitting in with the group prior to Ramos making a decision on his 21-player roster for the World Cup. 

“In the beginning, it was a bit awkward,” Payne said about jumping in at that stage. “The boys were very nice and that helped a lot.”

This was Payne’s first camp with the U.S., but it wasn’t his first time getting called into a national team camp. 

“The Dutch team called me in at the under 18 age group,” Payne said. “It was a call-up, nothing further.”

Payne added that Trinidad, his father’s birth nation, has never tried to call him in. The teenager seems pretty comfortable with the U.S. now. His laid-back attitude off the field fits in well with the California contingent in the group. 

“I really like the boys, the football is good here, and I really love the weather,” Payne said. “I like America so it’s perfect.”

On the field, the 19-year-old offered Ramos versatility along the back line, which is an invaluable asset when juggling limited roster spots at a competition that could drag on for weeks. 

“My preferred position is right back,” Payne said. “With the reserves [at FC Groningen], I play right back. When I made my [professional] debut, I played left back. I played right back and center back in England [with the U.S. U20s] and then I played left back yesterday in the game.”

Payne could feature at any one of those roles in New Zealand later this month when the U.S. kicks off the World Cup. His sudden arrival has been an added boost to an already professional-laden squad. The teenager from Netherlands, who signed a four-year extension with his club last week, might have some of the most impressive qualifications among the defenders.

“I think in Holland, the football is a bit quicker,” Payne said when asked to compare the national team to his club team. “It’s good over here.” 

Now, heading into his first major international event, Payne is going in with a mentality that no team can be overlooked in New Zealand. 

“I think that we need to work hard,” Payne said about expectations heading into his first World Cup. “Everyone can beat everyone. We have a good team, so I hope it’s going to be a long ride.”