Reed Baker-Whiting has officially been named to the United States’ U20 World Cup team. Training camp opens on Monday, meaning he’ll be available to play this Sunday’s game against Austin FC before having to report. He’ll miss 2-4 games depending on how far the United States advances.
The USA will open against Oceania’s New Caledonia on Sept. 29, France on Oct. 2 and South Africa on Oct. 5. The top two teams in each group will automatically advance to the Round of 16, along with the four best third-place teams. The tournament concludes on Oct. 19, one day after the MLS regular-season finale.
Baker-Whiting has been in and out of youth national teams since he was 15, but this will be his first major international tournament. He just signed a new U22 contract with the Sounders.
Tacoma Defiance interim head coach Mike Morris is part of Marko Mitrovic’s staff, as well, meaning he’ll miss the rest of the MLS Next Pro regular season. Sounders Director of Development Wade Webber will coach the Defiance in his place.
This marks the second straight U20 World Cup in which the Sounders have been represented after Obed Vargas played for the United States in 2023. Vargas is expected to represent Mexico at this year’s tournament.
FIFA U-20 WORLD CUP ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB/COUNTRY; HOMETOWN; U-20 MNT CAPS/GOALS)
GOALKEEPERS (3): 12-Adam Beaudry (Colorado Rapids; Castle Pines, Colo.; 7/0), 21-Duran Ferree (San Diego FC; San Diego, Calif.; 1/0), 1-Diego Kochen (FC Barcelona/ESP; Miramar, Fla.; 5/0)
DEFENDERS (7): 2-Reed Baker-Whiting (Seattle Sounders; Seattle, Wash.; 7/0), 18-Luca Bombino (San Diego FC; Saugus, Calif.; 9/0), 5-Noah Cobb (Colorado Rapids; Chattanooga, Tenn.; 13/0), 16-Ethan Kohler (SC Verl/GER; Campbell, Calif.; 12/1), 3-Nolan Norris (FC Dallas; Fort Worth, Texas; 16/0), 17-Francis Westfield (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.; 7/0), 4-Joshua Wynder (Benfica/POR; Louisville, Ky.; 11/1)
MIDFIELDERS (6): 19-Matthew Corcoran (Nashville SC; Dallas, Texas; 5/1), 8-Benjamin Cremaschi (Parma/ITA; Key Biscayne, Fla.; 9/2), 14-Taha Habroune (Columbus Crew; Columbus, Ohio; 14/2), 6-Brooklyn Raines (Houston Dynamo; Chicago, Ill.; 15/1), 15-Pedro Soma (San Diego FC; Coconut Creek, Fla.; 15/2), 10-Niko Tsakiris (San Jose Earthquakes; Saratoga, Calif.; 23/8)
FORWARDS (5): 11-Luke Brennan (Atlanta United; Atlanta, Ga.; 10/2), 7-Cole Campbell (Borussia Dortmund/GER; Peachtree City, Ga.; 3/0), 20-Zavier Gozo (Real Salt Lake City; Eagle Mountain, Utah; 11/2), 13-Peyton Miller (New England Revolution; Unionville, Conn.; 6/1), 9-Marcos Zambrano (Real Salt Lake; Gladwyne, Pa.; 13/6)
