Orlando City Defender Tommy Redding Called Up by USMNT for FIFA U-20 World Cup

As expected, Orlando City center back Tommy Redding has been called up to the United States U-20 Men’s National Team for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea from May 20 to June 11. Redding captained the U.S. U-20s to their first CONCACAF championship in March and was a key component in the Yanks’ impressive run.

The Orlando City Homegrown departs just as the club heads into a congested schedule of games, with six matches in a span of 23 days kicking off Saturday vs. Sporting Kansas City, including long-distance trips to San Jose and Minnesota. In addition to those games, he will miss matches against the Chicago Fire, New York City FC, and D.C. United. Redding could potentially be back in time for the June 17 match vs. Montreal. In the meantime, Orlando will have to make do with Jonathan Spector, Jose Aja, Seb Hines, and Leo Pereira, with Conor Donovan perhaps being an emergency option.

Redding has appeared in seven matches this season (six starts) and earned a place on the MLS Team of the Week bench after the Lions’ win over the New York Red Bulls on April 9. He has been one of the club’s most consistent performers since replacing the injured Aja (hamstring) on April 1 at Columbus. He has appeared in 27 matches and played over 2,000 minutes in his MLS career.

The U-20 USMNT will play in Group F with Ecuador, Senegal, and Saudi Arabia in the upcoming FIFA U-20 World Cup, opening the tournament against Ecuador on May 22 at 4 a.m. ET. The Yanks face Senegal on May 25 at 7 a.m. ET, and Saudi Arabia on May 28 at 5 a.m. ET. The first two games will be played at Incheon Stadium in Incheon, while the final group game will be played at Daejeon World Cup Stadium in Daejeon. All of the U.S.’s group matches will be broadcast live on FS1.

Here is the full U-20 roster:

Goalkeepers (3): Jonathan Klinsmann (University of California; Newport Beach, Calif.), J.T.Marcinkowski (Georgetown; Alamo, Calif.), Brady Scott (De Anza Force; Petaluma, Calif.).

Defenders (7): Danny Acosta (Real Salt Lake; Salt Lake City, Utah), Cameron Carter-Vickers (Tottenham Hotspur FC; Westcliff-on-Sea, England), Marlon Fossey (Fulham FC; Surbiton, England), Justen Glad (Real Salt Lake; Tucson, Ariz.), Aaron Herrera (University of New Mexico; Las Cruces, N.M.), Erik Palmer-Brown (Sporting Kansas City; Lee's Summit, Mo.), Tommy Redding (Orlando City SC; Oviedo, Fla.).

Midfielders (5): Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls; Wappingers Falls, N.Y.), Luca De La Torre (Fulham FC; San Diego, Calif.), Derrick Jones (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.), Eryk Williamson (University of Maryland; Alexandria, Va.), Gedion Zelalem (Arsenal FC; Bethesda, Md.).

Forwards (6): Jeremy Ebobisse (Portland Timbers; Bethesda, Md.), Lagos Kunga (Atlanta United FC Academy; Tucker, Ga.) Brooks Lennon (Real Salt Lake; Paradise Valley, Ariz.), Emmanuel Sabbi (Unattached; Columbus, Ohio), Josh Sargent (Scott Gallagher Missouri; O'Fallen, Mo.), Sebastian Saucedo (Real Salt Lake; Park City, Utah).