The Daily Scoop

U-17 WC Roster Takes Shape

by Johannes de Jong - August 3, 2007

On Friday, US Under-17 head coach John Hackworth named a 21-player roster set to head off for competition at the 2007 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in South Korea.

The list contains few surprise outside choices, with all but two players coming from the USSF Under-17 Residency Program situated in Bradenton. Fans that followed the Under-20 World Cup earlier this summer will recognize a few last names from Hackworth's list, with the team containing Preston Zimmerman's brother Brandon and Ofori Sarkodie's brother Kofi.

Group E play will be the next big challenge for the young Americans, with the opening match against Tajikistan set to kick off on August 20th. The team then faces Tunisia on the 23rd, followed by Belgium on the 26th to round off group play.

Just one of six seeded teams, the Americans will hope to improve upon its last tournament performance in Peru 2005, when the Netherlands proved a test too difficult in the first knockout game.

US Under-17 World Cup Squad

Liberia native Nimo finds himself booked for South Korea. (photo: FIFA)

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Keepers - Josh Lambo (Middleton, Wis.), Zac MacMath (St. Petersburg, Fla.), Larry Jackson (East Palo Alto, Calif.)

Defenders - Sheanon Williams (Boston, Mass.), Mykell Bates (Roseville, Calif.), Tommy Meyer (St. Louis, Mo.), Chris Klute (Grand Prairie, Texas), Kofi Sarkodie (Huber Heights, Ohio), Brandon Zimmerman (Pasco, Wash.)

Midfielders - Daniel Wenzel (Federal Way, Wash.), Jared Jeffrey (Dallas, Texas), Kirk Urso (Lombard, Ill.), Dane Shea (College Station, Texas), Gregory Garza (Grapevine, Texas), Brendan King (Naperville, Ill.), Alex Nimo (Portland, Ore.)

Attackers - Ellis McLoughlin (Seattle, Wash.), Bryan Dominguez (Atlanta, Ga.), Abdusalam Ibrahim (FC Dallas.), Billy Schuler (Allentown, N.J.), Daniel Cruz (Glendale, Ariz.)