CHICAGO (Oct. 29, 2024) – U.S. Men’s Cerebral Palsy (CP) National Team head coach Stuart Sharp has named his final 14-player roster for the 2024 IFCPF Men’s CP World Cup to be held Nov. 9-22 in Salou, Spain.
The No. 4-ranked USA will open the tournament against No. 10-ranked Australia on Monday, Nov. 11 (3:30 a.m. ET), face No. 6 Netherlands on Wednesday, Nov. 13 (3:30 a.m. ET), before rounding out the group stage against No. 14 Thailand on Friday, Nov. 15 (3:30 a.m. ET). The top two teams in each four-team group will advance to the Knockout Round, leading to the World Cup Final on Friday, Nov. 22.All matches will be broadcast live via the IFCPF YouTube Channel.
“The World Cup is the pinnacle of the game, and it’s a platform our players have always relished,” Sharp said. “While this squad will look different with four of our most experienced players unavailable, it has given us the opportunity to tap into the depth of our national team player pool and bring a fresh, new energy onto the world stage.”
Sharp, who will guide the USA for the fifth time in World Cup play, has selected nine players with previous World Cup experience, including eight who were part of the squad that earned a team-best fourth-place finish at the World Cup two years ago.
Midfielder Ben Lindau (Chicago, Ill.) and forward Cameron DeLillo (Brandon, Pa.) each have been named to their team-leading fourth World Cup roster, followed by three-time selections goalkeeper Marc Estrella (Bakersfield, Calif.), defender Jacob Kaplan (Morganville, N.J.) and forwards Jacob Crumbley (Fortson, Ga.), Shea Hammond (Montclair, N.J.) and Nick Mayhugh (Gainesville, Va.). Meanwhile, defender Chileshe Chitulangoma (Rochester, Minn.) and midfielder John Sullivan (Tucson, Ariz.) each head to their second World Cup.
Sharp has also tapped five first-time World Cup players in defender Frankie Lowery (Fort Collins, Colo.), midfielders Kyle Montgomery (Newport News, Va.), Wesley Pincince (Dunbarton, N.H.) and Michael Ruiz (Gilroy, Ga.), and forward Gavin Kohner (Phoenix, Ariz.).
Veteran defender and captain Josh Brunais suffered a torn ACL during the team’s September camp in Ireland, while goalkeeper Sean Boyle, defender Drew Bremer and midfielder Adam Ballou were not available for selection. All four players were part of both the 2022 World Cup and 2023 Parapan American Games rosters.
U.S. MEN’S CP NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER BY POSITION (Hometown; Caps/Goals; WC Rosters):
GOALKEEPER (1): Marc Estrella*^ (Bakersfield, Calif.; 18/0; 3)
DEFENDERS (3): Chileshe Chitulangoma^ (Rochester, Minn.; 3/0; 2), Jacob Kaplan*^ (Morganville, N.J.; 19/2; 3), Frankie Lowery* (Fort Collins, Colo.; 7/3; 1)
MIDFIELDERS (5): Ben Lindau*^ (Chicago, Ill.; 32/3; 4), Kyle Montgomery (Newport News, Va.; 1/0; 1), Wesley Pincince* (Dunbarton, N.H.; 8/0; 1), Michael Ruiz (Gilroy, Ga.; 1/0; 1), John Sullivan*^ (Tucson, Ariz.; 18/1; 2)
FORWARDS (5): Jacob Crumbley*^ (Fortson, Ga.; 18/3; 3), Cameron DeLillo*^ (Brandon, Pa.; 44/34; 4), Shea Hammond*^ (Montclair, N.J.; 24/17; 3), Gavin Kohner (Phoenix, Ariz.; 2/0; 1), Nick Mayhugh (Gainesville, Va.; 30/35; 3)
The U.S. Men’s CP National Team has good familiarity with two of its three group stage opponents, having faced Australia and Netherlands in the past two years, while its group stage finale against Thailand will mark its first match against the Asian side during the team’s modern era (2014-present).
Since 2014, the CP MNT is 4W-0L-1D in five meetings against Australia, including a 6-0 win at the 2017 World Cup and 5-1 victory at the 2022 edition, with striker Cameron DeLillo recording a brace in each. The two sides have met twice more since that last World Cup meeting, playing a pair of friendlies in February 2023 in Manly, Australia in which the USA earned a 2-0 win behind goals from Crumbley and Hammond, before playing to a 0-0 draw two days later.
The USA is 2W-3L-0D in five meetings with the Netherlands since 2014, splitting two World CupKnockout Round matches in that time-span. The Dutch came away victorious with a 2-1 win at the 2015 edition, before the USA bounced back with a 3-0 quarterfinal win two years ago in Salou.
The U.S. CP Men’s National Team is for eligible qualifying players with Cerebral Palsy, stroke or traumatic brain injury. If you or someone you know qualifies for the Men’s CP National Team and plays at a high level, you can contact us via email at ExtendedNT@ussoccer.org for more information on potential playing opportunities.
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