U.S. U-19 Women’s National Team to Train in Frankfurt Ahead of Two Matches at DFB Campus
U.S. U-19 Women’s National Team heads to Frankfurt May 31–June 10 for a training camp and two friendlies at the DFB Campus as players compete for 2026 U-20 World Cup spots.
The U.S. U-19 Women’s National Team will assemble in Frankfurt, Germany, from May 31 to June 10 for a concentrated training camp that includes two matches at the DFB Campus on June 5 and June 9. The camp brings together a 19-player roster composed predominantly of college players alongside two standouts from the USL Women’s Super League, all aiming to stake a claim for the U.S. pathway to the 2026 FIFA Women’s U-20 World Cup in Poland. Head coach Carrie Kveton has indicated the roster is likely to expand by one player before departure, underscoring the competitive environment the staff intends to foster. The training period and friendlies in Frankfurt represent a key stage in the federation’s ongoing youth development plan known as the U.S. Way.
Camp Schedule and Match Details
The camp opens on May 31 with sessions scheduled at Germany’s National Training Center in Frankfurt, known as the DFB Campus, where the U.S. team will remain through June 10. The U-19 side will face the host nation in two matches slated for June 5 and June 9 at the campus facilities, giving the coaching staff controlled, high-quality opposition to evaluate tactical concepts and player readiness. These fixtures are designed to simulate tournament conditions, with back-to-back preparation blocks and match-day protocols that mirror what players will encounter at global competitions. The timing also provides an opportunity to finalize selections for the next phase of the youth national team program.
Roster Makeup and Collegiate Representation
The 19 names called for the Frankfurt camp feature 17 college players and two professionals from the USL Women’s Super League, reflecting the federation’s continued reliance on the collegiate system to develop elite talent. Among the college contingent are players from nationally prominent programs including North Carolina, Duke, Wake Forest, Virginia, UCLA, and others, which supplies a mix of tactical schooling and competitive experience. That heavy collegiate presence allows coaches to evaluate athletes who are balancing academic schedules with high-level soccer, assessing both form and potential for long-term integration. The final roster will be trimmed or adjusted as Kveton and her staff prepare for selection ahead of the U-20 qualifying cycle.
USL Super League Forwards Bringing Professional Edge
Two names from the USL Women’s Super League add a professional edge to the squad: Ashlyn Puerta of Sporting JAX and Sealey Strawn of Dallas Trinity FC. Puerta has been one of the league’s most productive attackers this season, tied for the second-highest goal total with 12 goals, a tally that underscores her consistent finishing and threat inside the box. Strawn brings momentum of her own, having scored five goals for Dallas Trinity FC this season, including a brace in her club’s regular-season finale against Fort Lauderdale United FC, a performance that helped secure form heading into national team duty. Their inclusion reflects a deliberate blend of collegiate and professional experiences that can accelerate player readiness for international tournaments.
Players with FIFA U-17 World Cup Experience
The Frankfurt roster includes five players who have previous FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup experience, providing the group with tournament-hardened leaders and institutional knowledge. Defender Pearl Cecil and forward Lauren Malsom featured at the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, with Malsom notably scoring three goals during group play — one against Ecuador and a brace versus China PR. Additionally, Kiara Gilmore, Jordyn Hardeman, and Daya King were part of the U.S. team that finished third at the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, the nation’s best result at that age level since the tournament’s inception. That combination of recent World Cup exposure gives the U-19 group a foundation of players familiar with the pressures and intensity of global youth competition.
Recent Form and International Results This Year
The U-19 program enters the Frankfurt camp on the back of a productive international schedule, having played five internationals earlier this year — three matches in Portugal and two in Argentina. Across those outings the team compiled a 4-0-1 record, a run that demonstrates both the depth of the player pool and the coaching staff’s ability to prepare cohesive units in short windows. Those results have helped shape tactical identities and allowed the staff to rotate personnel while maintaining competitive standards. The camp against Germany offers a step up in opposition and conditions that will test the squad’s adaptability and resilience ahead of the U-20 World Cup cycle.
Eligibility, Recruitment and the Road to Poland 2026
Eligibility for the upcoming 2026 FIFA Women’s U-20 World Cup in Poland hinges on birthdates, and the current camp reflects that reality: 17 players on the roster were born in 2007 and two in 2008, while players born on or after January 1, 2006, are age-eligible for the U-20 tournament. With all 20 players in camp training and competing for a spot on future U-20 rosters, the selection process in Frankfurt is as much about immediate performance as it is about long-term projection. Coach Carrie Kveton and her staff will weigh tournament experience, current form, positional balance, and developmental upside as they finalize selections for the next steps in the pathway. The likely addition of one more player before travel brings the camp group to 20, providing a full complement for training and match evaluation.
U.S. Way Philosophy and Youth Development Priorities
The Frankfurt camp is another expression of U.S. Soccer’s U.S. Way philosophy, which emphasizes expanded programming for youth national teams to create clearer pathways to the senior national team. The federation has prioritized sustained touchpoints across age groups, with the aim of exposing promising players to consistent coaching, tactical frameworks, and international competition. This camp will give staff the chance to instill stylistic principles, evaluate the effectiveness of player development priorities, and identify players who can transition into the U-20 and eventually senior environments. By integrating collegiate and professional experiences, the program aims to produce well-rounded athletes prepared for the demands of elite international play.
The scheduled matches in Frankfurt and the structured training period will function as a concentrated assessment window for the U.S. U-19 Women’s National Team as players pursue spots on future U-20 rosters. The blend of World Cup veterans at the youth level, collegiate standouts, and professional goal scorers creates a competitive atmosphere that should sharpen selection decisions. With the DFB Campus providing top-tier facilities and the German national side presenting strong opposition, the U.S. staff will have a clear view of which players possess the tactical understanding, physical readiness, and mental attributes necessary for the demands of the 2026 FIFA Women’s U-20 World Cup qualification and beyond.
