FC Dallas midfielder Kellyn Acosta will captain the United States in the CONCACAF U-20 Championship when the 10-team tournament begins on Friday in Jamaica.
Acosta, 19, signed a Homegrown contract with Dallas in June 2012 and has appeared in at least 13 games each of the past two seasons in Frisco. A native of Plano, Texas, Acosta is one of just two players on head coach Tab Ramos’ current U-20 roster who returns from the 2013 FIFA World Cup squad, and he also suited up for the US at the 2011 U-17 World Cup in Mexico.
“It’s a great honor. I’m glad Tab gave it to me,” Acosta told ussoccer.com. “I want to make the most of it and help my teammates in any way possible – not being only a vocal leader but also showing with my actions. I’m glad to play the role and I can’t wait for it.”
The US Under-20 team features six MLS players: Acosta, New York Red Bulls defender Matt Miazga, Orlando City defender Tyler Turner, Columbus Crew SC forward Romain Gall, LA Galaxy forward Bradford Jamieson IV and San Jose Earthquakes forward Tommy Thompson.
The roster also includes Club Tijuana forward Paul Arriola, Borussia Dortmund midfielder Junior Flores and Fulham midfielder Emerson Hyndman, among others.
“I believe that at the end of the day, [Acosta] has to put this team on his shoulders and carry it,” Ramos told ussoccer.com. “And he has to be the one on the field that gets us through the tough moments and that gets everybody settled. If I didn’t think Kellyn could do the job, I certainly wouldn’t have done it, but I truly believe that he’s the right person to do it.”
The US begin group play against Guatemala at the National Stadium in Kingston on Friday (5:30 pm ET; Fox Sports 2/Univision Deportes).
United States Under-20 Roster
Goalkeepers: Ethan Horvath (Molde/NOR); Zack Steffen (Freiburg/GER)
Defenders: Cameron Carter-Vickers (Tottenham Hotspur/ENG); Conor Donovan (NC State); Matt Miazga (New York Red Bulls); Shaquell Moore (Unattached); John Requejo (Club Tijuana/MEX); Tyler Turner (Orlando City)
Midfielders: Fernando Arce (Club Tijuana/MEX); Russell Canouse (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim/GER); Lynden Gooch (Sunderland/ENG); Emerson Hyndman (Fulham/ENG); Junior Flores (Borussia Dortmund/GER); Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas)
Forwards: Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana/MEX); Romain Gall (Columbus Crew SC); Bradford Jamieson IV (LA Galaxy); Amando Moreno (Club Tijuana/MEX); Ben Spencer (Molde/NOR); Tommy Thompson (San Jose Earthquakes)
