While the goal of the U.S. Soccer Youth National Team program has always been to develop players for the full U.S. Men’s National Team, the last few MYNT cycles have left an indelible impact on the current senior squad. Half of the USA’s 2022 FIFA World Cup roster previously represented the red, white and blue at a youth World Cup, including 10 players at the U-17 level.
From the USA’s 17 prior appearances at the U-17 World Cup, an average of 3.5 players have gone on to play for the full USMNT, roughly 17 percent of each U-17 World Cup squad. The last three U-17 World Cup rosters have produced three of the four highest rates of players to go on to represent USMNT, with the potential for more to come. Eight have debuted from the 2015 U-17 World Cup in Chile, the most-ever for the U.S., and the pathway has seen remarkable success since the USA missed out on the 2013 U-17 World Cup.
| U-17 World Cup | Players Capped | % of Players Capped | Players Named to Senior WC Roster | % Named to Senior WC Roster |
| 2019 | 5 | 24% | 2 | 10% |
| 2017 | 7 | 33% | 3 | 14% |
| 2015 | 8 | 38% | 4 | 19% |
| 2013 – DNQ | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2011 | 2 | 10% | 1 | 5% |
| 2009 | 3 | 14% | 0 | 0% |
| 2007 | 2 | 10% | 0 | 0% |
| 2005 | 2 | 10% | 2 | 10% |
| 2003 | 4 | 20% | 1 | 5% |
| 2001 | 4 | 22% | 1 | 6% |
| 1999 | 5 | 28% | 5 | 28% |
| 1997 | 2 | 11% | 0 | 0% |
| 1995 | 2 | 11% | 2 | 11% |
| 1993 | 1 | 6% | 1 | 6% |
| 1991 | 4 | 22% | 0 | 0% |
| 1989 | 3 | 17% | 1 | 6% |
| 1987 | 2 | 11% | 2 | 11% |
| 1985 | 3 | 17% | 1 | 6% |
| TOTAL | 59 (3.5 Average) | 17% | 26 (1.5 Average) | 7% |
Ahead of the U-17 World Cup’s return following a four-year absence due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, here’s a look at how the last few cycles have built the current USMNT.
The 2019 U-17 World Cup squad featured the most professional experience of any U.S. roster at the tournament. Five players went on to make their senior USMNT debuts in the lead-up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, all appearing in official competition, including World Cup qualifying and the Concacaf Gold Cup.
In three short years, Gio Reyna and Joe Scally went from the U-17 World Cup to international soccer’s biggest stage at Qatar 2022. Both products of New York City FC’s youth set-up in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, Reyna captained the USA in two of three U-17 WC matches before becoming one of the USMNT’s most dynamic attacking players. He has been instrumental in the USA claiming the first two Concacaf Nations League titles – scoring the opening goal against Mexico in the 2021 Final and registering assists on both goals in the 2-0 win against Canada in the 2023 championship game. Most recently, Reyna bagged his first international brace during the October international window vs. Ghana. Scally has earned seven caps since making his full team debut in June 2022 and the outside back played every minute for the U.S. U-17s in Brazil.
Ricardo Pepi made a memorable debut in 2022 World Cup qualifying at Honduras, scoring and adding two assists in a comeback 4-1 victory, the first of nine goals in his first 20 appearances for the USMNT. Coming out of the FC Dallas academy, he made two appearances in Brazil.
After developing at and earning an MLS Homegrown contract with Sporting Kansas City, Busio tied the record for the USA’s fastest goal scored at the U-17 World Cup with a third-minute tally in the tournament opener vs. Senegal. Most recently, the Venezia midfielder served as one of the captains for the U.S. Men’s Olympic Team during its cycle-opening friendlies in October. Bello played the USA’s second two matches in Brazil after rising through the ranks at Atlanta United FC.
Playing in front of record crowds in India, the 2017 U-17 World Cup squad was the final team to come from U.S. Soccer’s U-17 Residency Program at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
Forward Tim Weah made history at the tournament, becoming the first U.S. player to net a hat trick in the knockout stage of a men’s FIFA World Cup tournament when he bagged three goals in the Round of 16 vs. Paraguay. He opened the scoring for the USMNT at Qatar 2022 vs. Wales, becoming the first U.S. player to tally in the U-17, U-20 and senior World Cups.
Forward Josh Sargent served as the team’s captain in India after playing up an age group earlier in the year at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He played all 450 minutes for the team in India and was called up to the senior team for the first time in November 2017 as the St. Louis Scott Gallagher product became the first player to be called up to the U-17, U-20 and full Men’s National Teams in the same year.
After making his debut for the U.S. U-17s midway through the cycle in October 2016, Sergiño Dest played four of five games in India. Since then, he’s become an electrifying player at outside back for the senior team.
Two of the USMNT’s core players got their first taste of the world stage at Chile 2015 in forward Christian Pulisic and midfielder Tyler Adams.
Pulisic scored to help the U.S. earn its lone result of the group stage, a 2-2 draw against Croatia. Since his U-17 World Cup appearance, the PA Classics alum has become one of the USA’s most prolific young players ever, netting 28 goals in 64 caps already at age 25. At Qatar 2022, he netted the game-winning goal for the USA vs. IR Iran to advance to the knockout stage, becoming the third U.S. player to score in both the senior and U-17 World Cups.
After coming up through the Philadelphia Union academy, Auston Trusty parlayed a breakout season with Birmingham City in the English Championship into a move to the English Premier League with Sheffield United and his first pair of senior USMNT appearances this March during Concacaf Nations League group play. Defender Matthew Olosunde earned his first cap under interim head coach Dave Sarachan in May 2018 vs. Bolivia.
While the last three U-17 World Cup cycles have helped build the current U.S. Men’s National Team, the impact of the 1999 U-17 World Cup squad is still unmatched. Five players went on to the senior USMNT, including legends Landon Donovan and DaMarcus Beasley, both National Soccer Hall of Famers. All five players that progressed to the full team made senior World Cup rosters and took the field at least 45 times for the USMNT.
