Star Lletget not on U.S. U-17 World Cup roster
FIFA's release of the official rosters for the Under-17 World Cup, beginning Oct. 26 in Nigeria, included at least one surprise in the U.S. squad. Attacking midfielder Sebastian Lletget, one of the stars of the U.S. qualifying campaign in Tijuana, was not on Coach Wilmer Cabrera's 21-player U.S. roster.
For months their had been speculation that Lletget, a product of Santa Clara (Calif.) Sporting, would not go to the Under-17 World Cup. He is now in English club West Ham United's academy program.
Philip Gyau, another star in the under-17 program, was also not picked. Gyau and the injured Charles Renken, recently signed agreements to enter the Vancouver Whitecaps residency program and join German club Hoffenheim in the future
Besides Lletget and Gyau, two other players on the CONCACAF qualifying team, both reserves, did not make the U-17 World Cup roster: Emilio Orozco and Dustin Corea.
Will Packwood of English club Birmingham City is among five players who have been added to the team. The other four -- all Bradenton residents -- are goalie Keith Cardona, defender Boyd Okwuonu and forwards Victor Chavez and Dominick Sarle.
The U.S. will play the first two group games against Spain on Oct. 26 and Malawi on Oct. 29, in Kano before moving to Ijebu-Ode to close out the first round against UAE on Nov. 1.
U.S. U-17 Roster:
Goalkeepers: 21-Keith Cardona (New York Red Bulls), 1-Earl Edwards (Nomads SC), 12-Spencer Richey (Crossfire Premier)
Defenders: 6-Zachary Herold (West Pines United FC), 4-Perry Kitchen (Chicago Magic), 20-Boyd Okwuonu (Tulsa Thunder), 3-Tyler Polak (CSA Legacy), 2-Jared Watts (North Meck SC.), 15-Eriq Zavaleta (FC Pride)
Midfielders: 5-Marlon Duran (Latino Americana), 10-Luis Gil (Pateadores), 14-Carlos Martinez (Wilmington Jr.), 17-Will Packwood (Birmingham City, England), 11-Nick Palodichuk (Washington Premier FC), 8-Alex Shinsky (Super Nova FC)
Forwards: 16-Juan Agudelo (N.Y. Red Bulls Academy), 19-Victor Chavez (Real So Cal), 18-Andrew Craven (First Coast Kickers), 7-Stefan Jerome (West Pines United FC), 9-Jack McInerney (Cobb SC), 13-Dominick Sarle (BW Gottschee)
