CARSON, Calif. (Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015) – LA Galaxy II goalkeeper Eric Lopez, Academy goalkeeper Abraham Romero and Academy defender Hugo Arellano have been named to rosters for the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, which runs from Oct. 17-Nov. 8 in Chile. Lopez and Arellano were named to a 21-player roster that will represent the United States by U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team head coach Richie Williams while Romero was one of three goalkeepers named to Mexico’s Under-17 team.
Lopez, 16, became the youngest player ever to sign a contract in USL last year when he signed his first professional contract at the age of 15. He had featured at every level of the LA Galaxy Academy before signing with Los Dos in addition to being named to various U.S. Soccer Academy rosters.
Arellano, 17, an LA Galaxy Academy standout, has been a mainstay for Richie Williams on the USMNT U-17 side leading up to the World Cup. He has represented the LA Galaxy Academy on both the U-15/16 and U-17/18 levels.
Romero, 17, will represent Mexico's U-17 squad as one of the three goalkeepers for the two-time U-17 champions. Mexico was drawn into Group C alongside Australia, Germany, and Argentina. Romero and El Tri will begin the tournament against Argentina on Oct. 18 at 4 p.m. PT in Chillan and then face Australia on Oct. 21 at 1 p.m. PT. Mexico wraps up group play against Germany on Oct. 24 at 4 p.m. PT.
The U.S. U-17’s were drawn into Group A with host Chile, Croatia and Nigeria and open group play against Nigeria on Oct. 17 at 4 p.m. ET in Santiago. The team will then square off with Croatia on Oct. 20 at 4 p.m. ET in Vina Del Mar and Chile on Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. ET in Vina Del Mar.
The World Cup will be played in eight cities in Chile: Chillan, Concepcion, Coquimbo, La Serena, Puerto Montt, Santiago/Nunoa, Talca, and Vina Del Mar. The championship and third place matches take place Sunday, Nov. 8, at the 24,000-capacity Estadio Sausalito in Vina del Mar.
A total of 24 countries participate in the tournament. The top two teams in each group, as well as the best four third-place teams, advance to the Round of 16 on October 28 and 29.
The U.S. qualified for the U-17 World Cup with a third-place finish at the 2015 CONCACAF U-17 Championship in March. After winning its group with a 3-1-1 record, the U.S. clinched its spot in Chile by defeating Jamaica 5-4 in penalty kicks.
This is the 15th occasion that the USA has advanced to a FIFA World Youth Championship or World Cup at this age group. The USA’s best performance was a fourth-place finish at the FIFA U-17 World Youth Championship in 1999 that included wins against Uruguay and Mexico. The U.S. nearly reached the final, falling in a penalty kick shootout to Australia in the semifinal.
U.S. Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (3):Eric Lopez (LA Galaxy II; Westminster, Calif.), William Pulisic (Richmond United; Mechanicsville, Va.), Kevin Silva (Players Development Academy; Bethlehem, Pa.)
DEFENDERS (8): Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls II; Wappinger Falls, N.Y.), Hugo Arellano (LA Galaxy Academy; Norwalk, Calif.), Danny Barbir (West Bromwich Albion; Allentown, Penn.), Tanner Dieterich (Real Salt Lake Academy; Nashville, Tenn.), John Nelson (Internationals; Medina, Ohio), Matthew Olosunde (New York Red Bulls Academy; Trenton, N.J.), Auston Trusty (Philadelphia Union Academy; Media, Pa.), Alexis Velela (New York Cosmos; San Diego, Calif.)
MIDFIELDERS (5): Eric Calvillo (Real So Cal; Palmdale, Calif.), Luca de la Torre (Fulham F.C. San Diego, Calif.), Thomas McCabe (Players Development Academy; South Orange, N.J.), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund; Hershey, Pa.), Alejandro Zendejas (FC Dallas; El Paso, Tex.)
FORWARDS (5): Pierre da Silva (Orlando City SC Academy; Port Chester, N.Y.), Joe Gallardo (C.F. Monterrey; San Diego, Calif.), Josh Perez (Unattached; La Habra, Calif.), Brandon Vazquez (Club Tijuana; Chula Vista, Calif.), Haji Wright (New York Cosmos; Los Angeles, Calif.)
