U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team holding training camp in SoCal with 24 players

ATLANTA – U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team head coach Vicky Jepson has called up 24 players for a training camp running from Feb. 24 through March 3 at the Elite Athlete Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif.

The camp is part of continued preparations for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, which will be held in Poland from Sept. 5-27. The USA is one of 12 nations to have already qualified for the tournament, doing so at the 2025 Concacaf Women’s U-20 Championship last June. The tournament will feature 24 countries.

Players born on or after Jan. 1, 2006, are eligible for the 2026 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup. This roster is made up of 16 players born in 2006, seven born in 2007 and one, midfielder Kimmi Ascanio, born in 2008.

Despite being the youngest player in camp, Ascanio is actually one of the most experienced players on the roster, having played two seasons so far in the NWSL for the San Diego Wave as well as in the 2022 Concacaf Girls’ U-15 Championship, the 2024 Concacaf U-17 Women’s Championship and the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. She was age-eligible for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup but was not available for selection.

(+READ: U.S. U-16 Girls National Team roster revealed for 2026 UEFA Development Tournament)

Of the 10 professionals on the roster, nine play in the NWSL while defender Zoe Matthews recently transferred from a team in Spain to SL Benfica in Portugal, where she is on loan from the Houston Dash.

Three of the nine NWSL players – midfielders Ainsley McCammon (Seattle Reign FC), Kennedy Fuller (Angel City FC), and Ascanio – played in the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup on the team that finished third in the world. Stanford midfielder Y-Lan Nguyen also played in the tournament. Forward Alex Pfeiffer, who recently signed with Bay FC after starting her pro career with the Kansas City Current, would have played in that tournament if not for an ACL injury from which she has now fully recovered.

The camp also marks the return of speedy winger Onyeka Gamero to the U.S. Women’s National Team program. Gamero, who was one of the top players on the USA’s 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Team, signed with Barcelona “B” in the summer of 2023, but her comeback from an ACL injury suffered that November has kept her out of action since then. She left Barcelona to sign with Bay FC in July of 2025 but did not play in a NWSL match last season.

Goalkeeper Caroline Birkel (Stanford), midfielder Addison Halpern (Virginia) and forward Emeri Adames (Seattle Reign FC) were all on the USA’s 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Team that took third in the world, but Adames was the only one of the trio who saw action in Colombia, starting all seven matches.

Of the NWSL players, Seattle Reign FC midfielder Sofia Cedeno (19 years old), Houston Dash midfielder Linda Ullmark (19), and Gamero (19) are entering their rookie years. Cedeno played a few matches in the Northern Super League with the Halifax Tides last year. McCammon (18) is entering her second professional season. Fuller (18), Pfeiffer (18), Adames (19) and Ascanio (18) are entering their third pro seasons while Boston Legacy forward Chloe Ricketts (18) is entering her fourth.

Defender Lizzy Boamah (Stanford), goalkeeper Kealey Titmuss (Penn State) and Adames were a part of the U.S. U-19 WNT that took bronze at the 2023 Pan American Games while playing against senior national teams. That team also featured current full USWNT pool players Jordyn Bugg, Gisele Thompson and Claire Hutton.

Of the 14 college players on the roster, there are three each from Stanford and Penn State.

U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team Training Camp Roster by Position (College/Club; Hometown) 

Goalkeepers (3): Caroline Birkel (Stanford; St. Louis, Mo.), Kate Ockene (Florida State; Sandy, Utah), Kealey Titmuss (Penn State; Grand Blanc, Mich.)

Defenders (8): Bella Ayscue (Penn State; Apex, N.C.), Lizzy Boamah (Stanford; San Diego, Calif.), Paloma Daubert (UCLA; Rescue, Calif.), Abby Gemma (Florida; Flemington, N.J.), Kieryn Jeter (Georgia; Cumming, Ga.), Emma Johnson (Penn State; Greenfield, Ind.), Zoe Matthews (SL Benfica, POR; Southlake, Texas), Hope Munson (UNC; Holladay, Utah)

Midfielders (6): Sofia Cedeno (Seattle Reign FC; Dallas, Texas), Kennedy Fuller (Angel City FC; Southlake, Texas), Addie Halpern (Virginia; Middlesex, N.J.), Ainsley McCammon (Seattle Reign FC; Bedford, Texas), Y-Lan Nguyen (Stanford; Fairfax, Va.), Linda Ullmark (Houston Dash; Buffalo, N.Y.)

Forwards (7): Emeri Adames (Seattle Reign FC; Red Oak, Texas), Kimmi Ascanio (San Diego Wave; Doral, Fla.), Alex Buck (Washington; Medina, Wash.), Izzy Engle (Notre Dame; Edina, Minn.), Onyeka Gamero (Bay FC; Cerritos, Calif.), Alex Pfeiffer (Bay FC; St. Louis, Mo.), Chloe Ricketts (Boston Legacy FC; Dexter, Mich.)