SEATTLE, WASH. – Sounders FC midfielder Cristian Roldan has been called into the U-20 U.S. National Team camp held in Linz, Austria from April 18-26. Head Coach Tab Ramos’ group is playing friendly matches against fellow U-20 FIFA World Cup side Qatar on April 21, followed by a matchup against Croatia on April 25. Both games are being played at Red Bull Arena, home of FC Red Bull Salzburg in Wals-Siezenheim, Austria. Roldan is set to depart for U.S. camp following Sounders FC’s MLS match in Colorado on Saturday, April 18 (6:00 p.m. PT / JOEtv, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM).
Roldan, 19, has appeared in four of five matches for Sounders FC in the 2015 season. The club made Roldan its First Round (16th overall) selection in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft following a two-year career at the University of Washington. After appearing as a substitute in the first two matches this season, Roldan made his first career start in a 0-0 road draw at FC Dallas on March 28, then started and played 81 minutes in a 1-0 loss at the LA Galaxy on April 12.
This is the second camp of the year for Ramos’ group, who recently returned from a seven-day camp in England where the U.S. faced England’s U-21s on March 29. This Austria camp continues the USA’s preparation for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which takes place in New Zealand from May 30-June 20.
Nine players represent clubs in Major League Soccer: defenders Conor Donovan (Orlando City SC), Matthew Miazga (New York Red Bulls) and Erik Palmer-Brown (Sporting Kansas City); midfielders Allen (Real Salt Lake), Marco Delgado (Toronto FC), Romain Gall (Columbus Crew SC) and Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC); and forwards Pfeffer (Philadelphia Union) and Tommy Thompson (San Jose Earthquakes).
The USA was drawn into Group A of the U-20 FIFA World Cup alongside host New Zealand, Ukraine and first-time participant Myanmar. The U.S. opens the tournament May 30 against Myanmar, continues play on June 2 against New Zealand, and wraps up the group stage against Ukraine on June 5.
U-20 U.S. MNT ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (2): Jeff Caldwell (University of Virginia; Todd, N.C.), Zack Steffen (SC Freiburg; Downington, Pa.)
DEFENDERS (6): Cameron Carter-Vickers (Tottenham Hotspur; Westcliff on Sea, England), Conor Donovan (Orlando City SC; Fuquay-Varina, N.C.), Matthew Miazga (Clifton, N.J.; New York Red Bulls), Shaquell Moore (Unattached; Powder Springs, Ga.), Erik Palmer-Brown (Sporting Kansas City; Lee’s Summit, Mo.), John Requejo (Club Tijuana; Carpinteria, Calif.)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Jordan Allen (Real Salt Lake; Rochester, N.Y.), Marco Delgado (Toronto FC; Glendora, Calif.), Junior Flores (Borussia Dortmund; Manassas Park, Va.), Romain Gall (Columbus Crew SC; Herndon, Va.), Lynden Gooch (Sunderland; Santa Cruz, Calif.), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; Pico Rivera, Calif.), Ethan Sonis (SC Freiburg; Coral Springs, Fla.), Joel Sonora (CA Boca Juniors; Buenos Aires, Argentina)
FORWARDS (4): Amando Moreno (Club Tijuana; Morganville, N.J.), Zach Pfeffer (Philadelphia Union; Dresher, Pa.), Maki Tall (Red Star; Washington, D.C.), Tommy Thompson (San Jose Earthquakes; Loomis, Calif.)
