Louisville City FC’s Josh Wynder will take yet another step forward in his blossoming career when training for the first time with the U.S. Under-20 Men’s Youth National Team.
Wynder received a call-up to the U-20 domestic training camp running from Thursday through Jan. 29 at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The squad is gathering in its run up to the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup kicking off May 20 in Indonesia.
“I’m blessed to be given the opportunity to represent my country and take another small step in reaching my goals,” said Wynder, who will join LouCity for its preseason after international duty. “I’m looking forward to a great experience to continue to grow as a player with the U-20s.”
Wynder — a 17-year-old defender from Louisville — is coming off a breakout 2022 that led to nominations for both U.S. Soccer’s Young Male Player of the Year and USL Championship Young Player of the Year.
The center back started 21 of his 24 LouCity appearances, missing part of the summer due to injury. Along the way, he earned multiple U.S. U-19 call-ups, captaining in a June 6 victory over England and assisting a goal in a Sept. 23 win against Croatia.
Wynder in November saw his Transfermarkt value jump to a USL Championship-leading €1 million, with the leading worldwide evaluator of players’ transfer values calling him a “super talent.” Upon turning 18 this May 2, Wynder will become eligible for the European transfer he’s aspiring to when the summer window opens.
While U-20 MYNT head coach Mikey Varas serves as an assistant at the senior USMNT’s January training camp, U-17 MYNT head coach Gonzalo Segares will lead this month’s camp. Segares has served as an assistant with the U-20s throughout their cycle.
Wynder is among six players making their first U-20 MYNT appearance. Also among the group is the other call-up from a USL Championship club, Orange County SC’s Korede Osundina. Coincidentally, LouCity opens its 2023 regular season March 11 at Orange County in a matchup of rising international stars.
U-20 MYNT roster by position (club/college; hometown)
Goalkeepers (2): Antonio Carrera (FC Dallas; Frisco, Texas), Emmanuel Ochoa (San Jose Earthquakes; Salinas, Calif.)
Defenders (8): Brandan Craig (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.), Mauricio Cuevas (Club Brugge/BEL); Marcus Ferkranus (LA Galaxy; Santa Clarita, Calif.), Alexander Freeman (Orlando City SC; Plantation, Fla.), Michael Halliday (Orlando City SC; Apopka, Fla.), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United FC; Atlanta, Ga.), Thomas Williams (Orlando City SC; Titusville, Fla.), Joshua Wynder (Louisville City FC; Louisville, Ky.)
Midfielders (7): Alejandro Alvarado Jr. (Vizela/POR; Los Angeles, Calif.), Daniel Leyva (Seattle Sounders FC; Las Vegas, Nev.), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake; Sunnyvale, Calif.), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union; Middle Village, Pa.), Niko Tsakiris (San Jose Earthquakes; Saratoga, Ga.), Owen Wolff (Austin FC; Braselton, Ga.)
Forwards (6): Jackson Hopkins (D.C. United; Fredericksburg, Va.), Roald Mitchell (Wake Forest; Montclair, N.J.), Korede Osundina (Orange County SC; Redmond, Wash.), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.), Tyler Wolff (Atlanta United FC; Austin, Texas)
