The U.S. U18 Men’s National Team is headed to Marbella, Spain for two international friendlies next week. Head coach Omid Namazi called in 20 players for the camp and games. Defender Julian Araujo is the only player not born in 1999 to make the roster for the event. Araujo, born in 2001, is a standout for Barca Academy in Casa Grande, Arizona. 

USA U18 MNT is 1-0-2 in 2017 with a win over Belarus and draws against Slovakia and Hungary. Coach Namazi is still yet to lose with this group since taking over in 2016. 

The roster includes many of the familiar names from the 99 age group including Jonathan Gonzalez (CF Monterrey) and Nicholas Taitague (Schalke 04). The duo, alongside Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls), is expected to be cornerstone players for the 2019 U20 World Cup group.

This group also includes five college players with Carson Vom Steeg (Stanford), Mark McKenzie (Wake Forest), Brandon Servania (Wake Forest), Griff Dorsey (Indiana), and Emmanuel Perez (NC State). 

The camp begins on Monday, Oct. 2 with games against Belgium on Thursday, Oct. 5, and Russia on Sunday, Oct. 9.

Update: Jonathan Gonzalez was not released for the games. Notre Dame freshman Paul Rothrock has replaced him on the roster. 

U.S. U18 Men’s National Team Roster 

Goalkeepers (2): Eric Lopez (LA Galaxy; Los Angeles, Calif.), Brady Scott (FC Koln; Petaluma, Calif.)

Defenders (6): Julian Araujo (Barca Academy; Lompoc, Calif.), Mark McKenzie (Wake Forest; Bear, Delaware), Matthew Real (Philadelphia Union; Drexel Hill, Pa.), Aedan Stanley (St. Louis FC; Columbia, Ill.) Angel Uribe (Club Tijuana; San Diego, Calif.), Carson Vom Steeg (Stanford; Santa Barbara, Calif.)

Midfielders (7): Christian Cappis (FC Dallas; Katy, Texas), Jose Carranza (North Carolina FC; Manassas, Va.), Paxton Pomykal (FC Dallas; Highland Village, Texas), Paul Rothrock (Notre Dame; Seattle, Wa.), Brandon Servania (Wake Forest; Birmingham, Ala.), Juan Pablo Torres (Sporting Lokoren; Lilburn, Ga.), Sam Vines (Charlotte Independence; Charlotte, N.C.)

Forwards (5): Shaft Brewer (RB Leipzig; Sacramento, Calif.), Griff Dorsey (Indiana; Evergreen, Colo.), Emmanuel Perez (NC State; Garner, N.C.), Nebiyou Perry (AIK; New York, NY), Nicholas Taitague (FC Schalke; Midlothian, Va.) 

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