Tab Ramos has his 21st player.
The US U-20 national team head coach, who was holding the final spot on his U-20 World Cup squad for Arsenal youngster Gedion Zelalem pending FIFA clearance, received the good news Wednesday announced via Twitter by U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati.
Zelalem, who received his US citizenship in December but was still ineligible to play for the USA according to FIFA guidelines, was seeking an exemption from the soccer governing body that U.S. Soccer had hoped would arrive in time for the May 15 roster deadline.
The 18-year-old midfielder will now join the US U-20s as the team kicks off training in Australia this week ahead of the tournament in New Zealand from May 30 to June 20.
"I’m very excited about this particular group,” Ramos said in a US Soccer statement. “It was very difficult making the final decision because there were quite a few players who deserved to go to the World Cup. Unfortunately, in the end I can only select a certain number, and I’m very happy with the selections that we made.”
Had Zelalem not received his approval in time, his spot would have gone to Philadelphia Union midfielder Zach Pfeffer, according to what Ramos told media on May 7.
There was one other changed made from the initial 20-player roster released on May 7, as University of San Diego goalkeeper Thomas Olsen replaces Molde’s Ethan Horvath.
Below is USA’s final U-20 World Cup roster:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Jeff Caldwell (University of Virginia; Todd, N.C.), Thomas Olsen (University of San Diego; Las Vegas, Nev.), Zack Steffen (Freiburg; Downingtown, Pa.)
DEFENDERS (6): Cameron Carter-Vickers (Tottenham Hotspur; Westcliff on Sea, England), Matthew Miazga (New York Red Bulls; Clifton, N.J.), Shaquell Moore (Valencia Huracan; Powder Springs, Ga.), Erik Palmer-Brown (Sporting Kansas City; Lee’s Summit, Mo.), Desevio Payne (FC Groningen; Greenwood, S.C.), John Requejo (Club Tijuana; Carpinteria, Calif.)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas; Plano, Texas), Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana; Chula Vista, Calif.), Russell Canouse (Hoffenheim; Lancaster, Pa.), Marco Delgado (Toronto FC; Glendora, Calif.), Emerson Hyndman (Fulham; Dallas, Texas), Joel Soñora (Boca Juniors; Buenos Aires, Argentina), Gedion Zelalem (Arsenal; Montgomery County, Md.)
FORWARDS (5): Jordan Allen (Real Salt Lake; Rochester, N.Y.), Bradford Jamieson IV (LA Galaxy; Los Angeles, Calif.), Rubio Rubin (Utrecht; Beaverton, Ore.), Maki Tall (Red Star; Washington, D.C.), Tommy Thompson (San Jose Earthquakes; Loomis, Calif.)
