The Future of U.S. Soccer Heads to the World Cup

United States U-17 men’s national team head coach Gonzalo Segares named the 21 players who will represent the country at the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup, set to take place in Qatar from Nov. 3-27.

The U.S. will compete in Group I, kicking off the campaign on Wednesday, Nov. 5, against Burkina Faso. The Americans will then face Tajikistan before closing group play against Czechia. All matches will be held at the Aspire Zone in Al Rayyan, one of the premier sports complexes in the world.

“We’re excited to bring together this group of young men who have worked tirelessly to get to this point,” Segares said. “Representing our country at a World Cup is an incredible honor and an experience they’ll never forget. We’re thankful to all the clubs who supported their release, and we’ll head to Qatar with pride and the determination to compete for our flag.”

This marks a record 19th appearance for the United States at a FIFA U-17 World Cup — the most of any nation — and the Americans will look to build on their long-standing tradition of success, having advanced from the group stage ten times in previous editions.

Before arriving in Qatar, the team will gather for a pre-camp in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, starting on Oct. 21, before making the short trip to Doha on November 1.

MLS Academies Shine Through Roster Selections

Segares’ roster features players born in 2008 and 2009, with 19 players from the 2008 class and two from 2009. Among the headliners is Nimfasha Berchimas (Charlotte FC), who returns for his second U-17 World Cup after debuting at just 15 years old in 2023, where he led the U.S. in scoring with three goals.

The roster showcases the impressive depth of MLS academies, with 17 players representing 11 MLS clubs. Philadelphia Union leads all teams with four selections, followed by LA Galaxy, New York Red Bulls and Real Salt Lake with two each. The list is rounded out by one player each from Atlanta United, Charlotte FC, Chicago Fire, Columbus Crew, LAFC, New York City FC and Sporting Kansas City.

Beyond MLS, the roster also reflects the growing American footprint abroad. Borussia Dortmund (Germany) and Sporting Lisbon (Portugal) each sent one player, while Birmingham Legion and Orange County SC proudly represent the USL Championship, underscoring the diversity of player pathways within U.S. soccer.

Additionally, Micah Harris (Houston Dynamo), Logan Moniz (Boston Bolts), and Oliver Tan (Famalicão/POR) will join the team as training players during the pre-camp in Abu Dhabi.

The U.S. booked its ticket to Qatar with a dominant performance at the 2025 Concacaf U-17 Championship held in Costa Rica last February, cruising through group play with emphatic wins in Group F and securing one of Concacaf’s eight berths to the newly expanded tournament.

A New-Look Tournament

The 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup will be historic for two major reasons. It will be the first of five consecutive editions hosted by Qatar (2025–2029) and the first ever to feature an expanded 48-team format. The teams are divided into 12 groups of four, with the top two from each group plus the eight best third-place finishers advancing to the Round of 32, followed by a traditional knockout stage leading up to the final.

All matches through the semifinals will take place at the Aspire Zone, while the final will be held at the iconic Khalifa International Stadium in Doha — the same venue where the USMNT faced the Netherlands in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Round of 16.

With a roster full of emerging stars, international experience, and youthful energy, this new generation of American talent heads to Qatar determined to compete, represent and continue the nation’s proud tradition of excellence on the world stage.