ATLANTA (March 20, 2026) – U.S. Soccer has announced the 20-player roster that will take part in the U.S. Under-21 Men’s National Team training camp from March 23-31 in Cheonan-si, South Korea. During the camp, the U-21 MNT will play matches against Japan U-21 on March 27 (2 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. local) and Korea Republic U-23 on March 31 (6 a.m. ET / 7 p.m. local), with both games taking place at Korea Football Park.
Russell Payne, who serves as head coach at Northwestern University, will lead the U-21 MNT this month and during the June FIFA international window.
Made up of players born on or after Jan. 1, 2004, the Under-21 MNT will train and play matches through summer 2026 in an effort to make up on national team programming that players in this age group missed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Men's Olympic Soccer Team, made up of players under the age of 23 that will be eligible for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, will officially begin play later in 2026.
Sixteen players return from the first U-21 MNT camp of the cycle, held last November around matches away to Denmark and Serbia. The roster also features three players that have been part of U.S. Men’s National training camp in forward Damion Downs, who was part of the USMNT’s 2025 Gold Cup roster, as well as goalkeepers Diego Kochen and Gaga Slonina.
A total of 10 players have represented the United States at the last two FIFA U-20 World Cups, including seven from the 2025 roster: Reed Baker-Whiting, Luke Brennan, Noah Cobb, Ethan Kohler, Nolan Norris, Brooklyn Raines and Niko Tsakiris. Tsakiris was also on the 2023 roster alongside Rokas Pukstas, Slonina and Darren Yapi.
This month’s camp is part of the Federation’s continued focus on the U.S. Way philosophy, which emphasizes increased programming for Youth National Teams to create more opportunities for young players to advance through the pathway to the senior National Team with the goal of representing their country at a world championship.
GOALKEEPERS (2): Diego Kochen* (Barcelona/ESP; Miramar, Fla.), Gaga Slonina* (Chelsea/ENG; Addison, Ill.)
DEFENDERS (6): Reed Baker-Whiting* (Nashville SC; Seattle, Wash.), Noah Cobb* (Colorado Rapids; Chattanooga, Tenn.), Tate Johnson (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; Tampa, Fla.), Ethan Kohler* (New England Revolution; Campbell, Calif.), Nolan Norris* (FC Dallas; Fort Worth, Texas), Thomas Williams* (Nashville SC; Titusville, Fla.)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Santiago Castañeda* (Paderborn/GER; Tampa, Fla.), Jackson Hopkins* (D.C. United; Fredericksburg, Va.), Rokas Pukstas* (Hajduk Split/CRO; Stillwater, Okla.), Brooklyn Raines* (New England Revolution; Chicago, Ill.), Niko Tsakiris* (San Jose Earthquakes; Saratoga, Calif.), Gerardo Valenzuela* (FC Cincinnati; Boca Raton, Fla.)
FORWARDS (6): Luke Brennan* (Atlanta United; Atlanta, Ga.), Alan Carleton (Sandvikens/SWE; Powder Springs, Ga.), Damion Downs* (Hamburg/GER; Werneck, Germany), Korede Osundina (Casa Pia/POR; Redmond, Wash.), Brandon Powell (Barrow/ENG; Huddersfield, England), Darren Yapi* (Colorado Rapids; Denver, Colo.)
*Part of November U-21 MNT Roster