May 23. 2019
Barca Residency Academy Alumni Julian Araujo has been added to the U.S. Soccer U-20 Men’s National Team 21-player roster for the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup replacing Ayo Akinola has been ruled out of the competition due to an ankle injury.
Araujo, 17, narrowly missed out on Tab Ramos’ original 23-man roster but was named to the 50-player provisional roster, allowing him to join the team due to Akinola’s injury.
Per regulations, an injured player may be replaced on the roster up to 24 hours prior to a team’s opening match. The replacement must come from the 50-player provisional roster and approved by the tournament medical committee.
Araujo joins the USA squad in Poland just days ahead of their World Cup opener against Ukraine that will take place on Friday, May 23 at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The match will be televised on Fox Sports 1.
Araujo currently plays for LA Galaxy and has become a regular contributor for the club, logging 289 minutes in five appearances since his debut in March.
Araujo has been a constant within the U.S. Soccer cycle since 2017, competing in many YNT camps, friendlies, and competitions. He was a member of the U.S. squad that won the 2018 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship last November, picking up an assist in two group stage starts. Most recently, the 17-year-old played in two friendlies for the U-23 MNT against Egypt and Netherlands in March.
Following Friday’s match, the USA will face Nigeria on Monday, May 27 (2:30 p.m. ET; FS1, Universo) and wraps up the group stage on Thursday, May 30 vs. Qatar (2:30 p.m. ET; FS2, Universo).
