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Preview: Gianluca Busio and USA continue World Cup campaign Wednesday vs. Japan

United States U-17s vs. Japan U-17s
2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup | Group D
Wednesday, Oct. 30 | 6 p.m. CT | FS2, Telemundo
Estadio Kleber Jose de Andrade | Cariacica, Brazil


Sporting Kansas City's Gianluca Busio experienced a wide range of emotions on Sunday when the United States U-17 Men's National Team began its FIFA U-17 World Cup campaign against Senegal.


First came euphoric joy from becoming the first Sporting KC player to score in a U-17 World Cup, his powerful header vaulting the Americans into an early lead at Estadio Kleber Jose de Andrade in Cariacica, Brazil. Then came the disappointment of Senegal responding with four unanswered goals to deliver the U.S. a sobering 4-1 defeat.


Wednesday presents the U-17s an opportunity to get their group stage campaign back on track. Awaiting head coach Raphael Wicky's side is a Japan side that thrashed the Netherlands 3-0 to move level atop the group with Senegal. FS2, Telemundo and the FOX Sports app will provide live coverage from Cariacica with kickoff set for 6 p.m. CT.


Busio was one of the Americans' standout performers in the Group D opener, netting his eighth international goal at the U-17 level after starring at the Concacaf U-17 Championship earlier this spring. The Senegalese rallied impressively, however, leveling terms on the stroke of halftime before pulling away in the late stages.


Japan were just as formidable as Senegal on Sunday, posting a comprehensive win over Netherlands. Yamato Wakatsuki scored on either side of halftime and Jun Nishikawa added a third from the penalty spot as the Samurai Blue cruised past the 2019 UEFA European U-17 Championship winners.


The 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup features 24 nations divided into six groups of four teams. The top two finishers in each group, as well as the four best third-placed teams, will advance to the knockout round. All 52 tournament fixtures will be played in four venues across Brazil.


2019 FIFA U-17 WORLD CUP: GROUP D STANDINGS

<strong>#</strong>
<strong>TEAM</strong>
<strong>PTS</strong>
<strong>W</strong>
<strong>L</strong>
<strong>T</strong>
<strong>GF</strong>
<strong>GA</strong>
<strong>GD</strong>
1
Senegal
3
1
0
0
4
1
+3
2
Japan
3
1
0
0
3
0
+3
3
United States
0
0
1
0
1
4
-3
4
Netherlands
0
0
1
0
0
3
-3

The USA’s squad consists of 21 players who were born on or after Jan. 1, 2002. Busio is one of 15 players representing an MLS club and one of 14 players who competed at the Concacaf U-17 Championship earlier this year. Since the start of the current U-17 cycle in December 2017, the U.S. has put together a 17-9-5 international record.


The USA has qualified for a record 17 FIFA U-17 World Cups and is one of just seven countries to qualify for the last three tournaments.


Busio, who has tallied four goals and two assists in 34 competitive appearances for Sporting over the last two seasons, became the most experienced professional to ever take the field for the United States at a U-17 World Cup on Sunday. He enters the tournament on the heels of a strong 2019 campaign in Kansas City that yielded three goals and an assist across 26 games, including a stretch from March 30 to April 14 that saw him score in three straight fixtures and become the youngest player ever to score in back-to-back MLS matches.


2019 FIFA U-17 WORLD CUP: USA GROUP D SCHEDULE

<strong>Date</strong>
<strong>Matchup / Result</strong>
<strong>Kickoff (CT)</strong>
<strong>Venue</strong>
<strong>TV Info</strong>
Sunday, Oct. 27
<a href="https://www.ussoccer.com/competitions/u17-fifa-world-cup-2019/matches/united-states-vs-senegal" target="">USA 1-4 Senegal</a>
3&nbsp;p.m.
Estadio Kleber Andrade; Cariacica, Brazil
FS1, Telemundo
Wed., Oct. 30
<a href="https://www.ussoccer.com/competitions/u17-fifa-world-cup-2019/matches/united-states-vs-japan" target="">USA vs. Japan</a>
6&nbsp;p.m.
Estadio Kleber Andrade; Cariacica, Brazil
FS2, Universo
Sat., Nov. 2
<a href="https://www.ussoccer.com/competitions/u17-fifa-world-cup-2019/matches/united-states-vs-netherlands" target="">USA vs. Netherlands</a>
6&nbsp;p.m.
Estadio da Serrinha; Goiania, Brazil
<div>FS2, Universo</div>

2019 FIFA U-17 WORLD CUP: USA ROSTER (CLUB; HOMETOWN)


GOALKEEPERS (3): 21-Aaron Cervantes (Orange County SC; Chino Hills, Calif.), 1-Damian Las (Fulham/ENG; Norridge, Ill.), 12-Chituru Odunze (Leicester City/ENG; London, England)


DEFENDERS (7): 15-Sebastian Anderson (Colorado Rapids; Highlands Ranch, Colo.), 13-Adam Armour (North Carolina FC; Cary, N.C.), 3-George Bello (Atlanta United FC; Douglasville, Ga.), 4-Nicolas Carrera (FC Dallas; Frisco, Texas), 14-Tayvon Gray (New York City FC; Bronx, N.Y.), 5-Kobe Hernandez-Foster (LA Galaxy; Los Angeles, Calif.), 2-Joe Scally (New York City FC; Lake Grove, N.Y.)


MIDFIELDERS (5): 18-Maximilian Dietz (Freiburg/GER; Frankfurt, Germany), 17-Ethan Dobbelaere (Seattle Sounders FC; Seattle, Wash.), 8-Bryang Kayo (Orange County SC; Poolesville, Md.), 6-Daniel Leyva (Seattle Sounders FC; Las Vegas, Nev.), 16-Adam Saldana (LA Galaxy; Panorama City, Calif.)

FORWARDS (6): 7-Gianluca Busio (Sporting Kansas City; Greensboro, N.C.), 20-Andres Jasson (New York City FC; Greenwich, Conn.), 19-Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez (Seattle Sounders FC; Merced, Calif.), 9-Ricardo Pepi (FC Dallas; McKinney, Texas), 10-Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/GER; Bedford, N.Y.), 11-Griffin Yow (D.C. United; Clifton, Va.)