The 2025 FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup kicks off on Friday night in Chile, and this past Friday the United States’ squad was revealed by Head Coach Marko Mitrović that will attempt to go further than its trip to the Quarterfinals in the past four editions of the tournament.

Among the 23-player squad are nine players who’ve previously competed in the USL Championship, including former Louisville City FC star Joshua Wynder (pictured) as one of two returnees from the 2023 squad.

Here’s a look at each of the nine players and their time in the Championship.

Matthew Corcoran (51 appearances, 2,471 minutes) – Corcoran’s path is an example of those who’ve elected to turn pro in the USL-C as a teenager and used the platform as a springboard for their careers. The former Birmingham Legion FC midfielder signed with Legion in 2022, starred for the side in 2023, and earned his first call-up to the United States U-17s late in the cycle, impressing enough to become a starter on the 2023 U-17 World Cup squad.

Corcoran’s star has been on the rise since then. Early this year he was transferred to Nashville SC of MLS, and after a brief stint on loan with Rhode Island FC – where he reunited with former Legion assistant Khano Smith – to get minutes over the past month, he’s one to watch in the upcoming tournament.

Joshua Wynder (41 appearances, 2,904 minutes) – From attending Louisville City’s first game as a kid to becoming the most expensive outgoing transfer in USL Championship history – and earning his first call-up to the United States Men’s National Team in-between – there’s no better example of the USL Academy pathway than Joshua Wynder.

Now at SL Benfica after his seven-figure move from LouCity in 2023, the center back is likely to be one of the key players in this U.S. squad. This tournament could be the platform for even bigger things for the 2022 USL Championship Young Player of the Year Finalist.

Noah Cobb (37 appearances, 2,771 minutes) – Noah Cobb is one of two Atlanta United 2 alums in the squad who built experience in the USL Championship since making his debut shortly before his 16th birthday against Louisville City FC in 2021. Cobb was a regular for Atlanta in its final season in the league, logging more than 2,000 minutes that season. Since then, he’s logged 39 appearances in Major League Soccer, including a recent loan stint with the Colorado Rapids.

Luke Brennan (28 appearances, 1,132 minutes) – Alongside Cobb, Luke Brennan is the other Atlanta United 2 regular in the squad. The young forward notched two goals and two assists in 1,072 minutes in the 2022 season. Since then, he’s gradually ramped up time for Atlanta United, logging 453 minutes for the First Team this season, while notching one assist in three appearances in this summer’s Leagues Cup.

Reed Baker-Whiting (23 appearances, 1,103 minutes) – Reed Baker-Whiting was the third-youngest player to appear in the USL Championship in 2020 when he made his debut for Tacoma Defiance against Sacramento Republic FC aged 15 years, 105 days old. After featuring for the side over the next season, he made a solid transition to the Seattle Sounders, where he’s logged 59 regular season appearances over five seasons, recently signing a new contract extension at his hometown club.

Duran Ferree (8 appearances, 675 minutes) – Alongside Joshua Wynder, former San Diego Loyal SC goalkeeper Duran Ferree is the other USL Academy product that’s part of the squad. Ferree was signed by SD Loyal in the 2022 season and the following year became the youngest goalkeeper to record a shutout in the league aged 16 years, 206 days old. After signing with San Diego FC before its entry to MLS, Ferree also competed on loan with Orange County SC during the 2024 season.

Adam Beaudry (6 appearances, 540 minutes) – As with U-20s teammate Matthew Corcoran in Rhode Island, Adam Beaudry joined Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on loan from the Colorado Rapids in early August with the aim of getting higher-level minutes in the USL Championship ahead of his likely inclusion in this squad. Beaudry was solid for the Switchbacks, posting two shutouts and 11 saves in six appearances, and will now be part of the U-20s goalkeeping corps.

Brooklyn Raines (3 appearances, 19 minutes) – Sometimes, loans work out as intended. For a 16-year-old Brooklyn Raines – who joined El Paso Locomotive FC on loan from Houston Dynamo FC in 2021 – minutes proved hard to come by in the Borderplex. (At the time, Locomotive was driving to a first-place finish led by 17-year-old Diego Luna). Since then, thankfully, Raines has begun to flourish, recording 44 regular season appearances for the Dynamo, including a career-high 1,620 minutes this season.

Ethan Kohler (1 appearance, 90 minutes) – Ethan Kohler’s time at Oakland Roots SC was brief but offered the platform to Europe that has become commonplace for young talent entering the USL-C in recent years. Kohler made only one appearance for Roots, and recorded an assist in their U.S. Open Cup 3-1 victory against El Farolito – yes, that El Farolito – in 2023 before his transfer to Werder Bremen during the summer. Kohler is now competing on loan for SC Verl as he looks to climb the ladder to the Bundesliga.

There are a range of experiences in the USL-C among the league’s alums, but the variety shows the role the USL Championship plays in the pathway of young talent in the broader ecosystem. As the USL itself continues to grow – with more clubs opening more pathways and more opportunities – the more players we could see in future U-20s squads.

• TUNE IN: Follow the U.S. U-20s on Fox and Telemundo networks as they face New Caledonia (Monday, Sept. 29), France (Thursday, Oct. 2) and South Africa (Sunday, Oct. 5) in the group stage.