Atlanta United fullback Caleb Wiley was called into the U.S. team that is scheduled to compete in the Under-20 World Cup in Argentina.
Wiley, an 18-year-old native of Decatur, has 11 appearances, including 10 starts, with three goals and two assists this season for the Five Stripes. He has played well enough that he made his first appearance for the U.S. men’s national team for its match against Mexico. He was a member of Atlanta United’s first U12 academy team in 2016 and worked his way to a Homegrown contract.
The tournament will be held in Argentina from May 20-June 11. The U.S. is one of 24 teams that will compete. It is in Group B with Ecuador, Fiji and Slovakia. The U.S. will open against Ecuador on May 20, Fiji on May 23 and Slovakia on May 26. The matches are scheduled to start at 2 p.m. and will be broadcast on Fox Sports and Telemundo platforms.
U-20 manager Mikey Varas seems to have high expectations for Wiley.
“Make sure that Caleb feels great mentally, feels great physically, is clear on our game plan, but also has enough freedom to express himself and to be Caleb,” Varas said. “And if we do a good job of that we anticipate that Caleb will have a big tournament.”
Varas also likes that Wiley can player either left fullback or left wing, and that will be a major strength of the team.
The U.S. is the only team that has reached the quarterfinals of the past three U20 World Cups.
“It’s one of the biggest tournaments for the youth groups,” Wiley said May 4. “It’s been a long cycle for 2020. So, I’ve been looking forward to it, and I’m very excited.”
Wiley’s inclusion in the team will mean that he may miss as many as five Atlanta United matches. Wiley will leave to join the U.S. after Saturday’s match against Charlotte at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“We’re really excited for this group to compete against the world’s best in Argentina,” Varas said in a statement from the U.S. Soccer Federation. “To represent your country at a World Cup is a tremendous honor. We embrace the responsibility that comes with this opportunity. This group has put in so much hard work since the cycle kicked off to get to this point, and we will give everything on and off the field for our country. We’re very appreciative of the cooperation we’ve had from clubs, both at home and abroad, to release their players and let them shine on this global stage.”
FIFA U-20 World Cup roster by position
(Number-Name; Club/Country; U-20 Caps/Goals; Hometown)
Goalkeepers (3): 21-Alexander Borto (Fulham/ENG; South Plainfield, N.J.; 2/0), 12-Antonio Carrera (FC Dallas; Frisco, Texas; 4/0), 1-Gaga Slonina (Chelsea/ENG; Addison, Ill.; 5/0).
Defenders (7): 17-Justin Che (Hoffenheim/GER; Dallas, Texas; 6/0), 5-Brandan Craig (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.; 10/1), 2-Mauricio Cuevas (LA Galaxy; Los Angeles, Calif.; 13/1), 14-Marcus Ferkranus (LA Galaxy; Santa Clarita, Calif.; 11/0), 13-Jonathan Gomez (Real Sociedad/ESP; Keller, Texas; 6/0), 3-Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United FC; Atlanta, Ga.; 5/0), 4-Joshua Wynder (Louisville City FC; Louisville, Ky.; 2/0).
Midfielders (7): 6-Daniel Edelman (New York Red Bulls; Warren, N.J.; 10/0), 10-Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake; Sunnyvale, Calif.; 16/4), 8-Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union; Middle Village, N.Y.; 16/2), 20-Rokas Pukstas (Hajduk Split/CRO; Stillwater, Okla.; 12/1), 15-Niko Tsakiris (San Jose Earthquakes; Saratoga, Calif.; 5/3), 18-Obed Vargas (Seattle Sounders FC; Anchorage, Alaska; 4/0), 16-Owen Wolff (Austin FC; Austin, Texas; 3/1).
Forwards (4): 9-Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes; Ceres, Calif.; 7/2), 11-Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg/GER; South Riding, Va.; 6/2), 7-Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.; 15/7), 19-Darren Yapi (Colorado Rapids; Denver, Colo.; 3/0).
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Atlanta United’s 2023 MLS schedule
Feb. 25 Atlanta United 2, San Jose Earthquakes 1
March 4 Atlanta United 1, Toronto FC 1
March 11 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte FC 0
March 18 Atlanta United 5, Portland 1
March 25 Columbus 6, Atlanta United 1
April 1 Atlanta United 1, New York Red Bulls 0
April 8 Atlanta United 1, New York City FC 1
April 15 Atlanta United 2, Toronto FC 2
April 23 Atlanta United 2, Chicago 1
April 29 Nashville SC 3, Atlanta United 1
May 6 Inter Miami CF 2, Atlanta United 1
May 13 vs. Charlotte FC, 7:30 p.m.
May 17 vs. Colorado Rapids, 7:30 p.m.
May 20 at Chicago Fire FC, 8:30 p.m.
May 27 at Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m.
May 31 vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m., FS1
June 3 at Los Angeles FC, 10:30 p.m.
June 10 vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
June 21 vs. New York City FC, 7:30 p.m.
June 24 at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
July 2 vs. Philadelphia Union, 4 p.m., Fox
July 8 at CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
July 12 at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m.
July 15 vs. Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m., FS1
Aug. 20 at Seattle Sounders, 10:30 p.m.
Aug. 26 vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 30 vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 2 at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 vs. Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 20 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 4 at Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 at FC Cincinnati, TBA
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