CARSON, Calif. (Friday, June 7, 2013) – LA Galaxy defender Oscar Sorto and forward Jose Villarreal were each named to the United States roster for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which begins later this month in Turkey. U.S. head coach Tab Ramos announced the complete 21-man roster earlier today with the tournament scheduled to open on Friday, June 21 and runs through July 13. Sorto, as well as Galaxy Academy alum Javan Torre, is currently in Europe with Ramos and much of the squad after playing at the Toulon Tournament in France while Villarreal will join up with him and the rest of the squad following Saturday night’s game against Real Salt Lake.
READ: LA Galaxy teenagers Sorto and Villarreal to represent the U.S. at U-20 World Cup in Turkey
The United States have been drawn into Group A of the U-20 World Cup along with France, Ghana and Spain. They will open play against Spain at 10:45 a.m. (PT) on Monday, June 21 in Istanbul before facing France on Thursday, June 24 at 7:45 a.m. (PT) and rounding out group play against Ghana on Sunday, June 27 at 9:45 a.m. (PT). The first two games will be shown live on ESPN2 while the Group A finale against Ghana will be shown live on ESPNU.
Villarreal, who has made 14 appearances in all competitions for the Galaxy this year, was the U.S. U-20’s leading scorer at the U-20 CONCACAF Championship in Mexico, scoring three times in four games as his team finished second and qualified for the World Cup. Two of his three goals came in the 4-2 quarterfinal win over Canada, which booked a berth in Turkey for the U.S. The 19-year-old re-joined the Galaxy following the completion of that tournament and has scored twice, tallying once in the CONCACAF Champions League against Herediano and once in regular season play against Toronto FC while also adding an assist. Since signing with the Galaxy as a Homegrown player in December 2011, Villarreal has scored four goals in all competitions while adding two assists.
He will be joined in Turkey by Sorto, who recently represented the U.S. at the Toulon Tournament in France. The 18-year-old made one appearance in the tournament, starting and playing 77 minutes in the team’s 1-0 loss to South Korea on Wednesday. Signed by the Galaxy in December 2012 after starring for the Galaxy Academy U-18’s, Sorto has played in nine MLS Reserve League games over the past two years, starting two of LA’s three Reserve League games this season at right back. The Los Angeles-native has also continued to play for the Galaxy Academy, playing in 41 games with the U-18’s over the past two years, scoring four times while leading his team to two consecutive Southwest Division titles.
Nineteen-year-old defender Javan Torre rounds out the trio of Galaxy players on the U-20 roster. The UCLA center back played in three games with the U-20’s at the Toulon Tournament, and like Villarreal, was a member of the U.S. team that finished second at the U-20 CONCACAF Championship in Mexico. Prior to heading to UCLA, where he in appeared in 12 games last season as a freshman, the Santa Monica-native was a staple of the Galaxy Academy U-18 backline during the 2011-12 Develop Academy season, playing in 25 of 30 games as the club reached the Development Academy Playoffs.
