United States U-20 women’s national team head coach Vicky Jepson named her 21-player roster for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland on Wednesday. Eight of those players will come from their National Women’s Soccer League teams to compete in the tournament that will run from Sept. 5-27.
Goalkeeper Evan O’Steen (18 years old), midfielder Ainsley McCammon (19) and forward Emeri Adames (20) will join from Seattle Reign FC — the only team sending multiple players. Kansas City Current defender Katie Scott (19), Bay FC midfielder Kennedy Fuller (19), Houston Dash midfielder Linda Ullmark (20), Chicago Stars forward Micayla Johnson (18) and Racing Louisville forward Audrey McKeen (17) make up the rest of the NWSL contingent.
Some notable age-eligible pro players not on the roster include Bay FC midfielder Claire Hutton, OL midfielder Lily Yohannes, San Diego Wave midfielders Kimmi Ascanio and Melanie Barcenas, and Reign defender Jordyn Bugg.
Talking to media after the roster announcement, Jepson called the absences “upsetting,” but expressed faith in the players on the roster
“We’ve had a lot of clubs that have released, which is fantastic with the relationship,” Jepson said in relation to NWSL clubs. “We want to try and avoid players being stuck in the middle. What’s sad sometimes is when a player is desperate to represent their country and they’re not being released, that’s something we can’t control. There’s definitely a good relationship across the NWSL with the clubs, that’s for sure. But it’s hard. We can’t force a club to release a player. We have to respect that.”
Jepson added: “I worked with players for 10 months and prepared them for a World Cup and they’re not released. That is upsetting for me because of the athlete that misses out. But the focus turns to those that can go, and they are delighted to go and well-equipped to compete and be ready when called upon.”
The U.S. opens the World Cup on Sunday, Sept. 6 against Italy at 12 ET, then faces Japan on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 12 pm ET, and finishes the group stage against New Zealand on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 9 am ET. Every match of the tournament will be broadcast on the FOX family of networks.
Senior national team head coach Emma Hayes believes the competition is crucial for player development and has been better utilized by other nations to improve their player pools. Hayes told ESPN that she and her staff will be watching and scouting next month’s tournament in person.
2026 FIFA U.S. Under-20 Women’s World Cup Roster by Position (College or Club; U-20 Caps/Goals)
Goalkeepers (3): Caroline Birkel (Stanford; 6), Evan O’Steen (Seattle Reign FC; 2), Kealey Titmuss (Penn State; 5)
Defenders (7): Aven Alvarez (UNC; 12/0), Ella Bard (Louisville; 6/0), Lizzie Boamah (Stanford; 6/0), Pearl Cecil (Virginia; 2/0), Emma Johnson (Penn State; 9/1), Hope Munson (UNC; 6/0), Katie Scott (Kansas City Current; 11/1)
Midfielders (6): Kennedy Fuller (Bay FC; 8/2), Lily Joseph (Notre Dame; 2/0), Ainsley McCammon (Seattle Reign FC; Bedford, Texas; 6/0), Y-Lan Nguyen (Stanford; 5/0), Nyanya Touray (Florida State; 4/0), Linda Ullmark (Houston Dash; 7/6)
Forwards (5): Emeri Adames (Seattle Reign FC; 4/1), Alex Buck (Washington; 6/1), Micayla Johnson (Chicago Stars FC; 4/2), Audrey McKeen (Racing Louisville FC; 2/0), Sealey Strawn (UNC; 2/0)
