Sporting KC defender Erik Palmer-Brown named to U.S. under-20 World Cup roster

Sporting Kansas City defender Erik Palmer-Brown is skipping his high school graduation next weekend. But he will have a pretty good excuse.

Palmer-Brown was selected Thursday to the United States’ under-20 men’s national team for the 2015 U-20 World Cup.

He will join the team next week for training camp in Carson, Calif., where it will put in its final preparations for the World Cup, to be held in New Zealand from May 30 to June 20.

“It think that’s the next step in my progression,” Palmer-Brown said. “It’s always been a dream for me to represent my country internationally.

“I could not be more excited to be named to the roster.”

The trip to New Zealand will prevent Palmer-Brown from attending his graduation from O’Hara High School, which takes place May 17. His final day of high school is Friday.

Palmer-Brown, 18, made his MLS debut last May, when he became the youngest defender in MLS history to start a match. He has appeared in one Sporting KC match this season.

He is slated to become the third player in club history to appear in the Under-20 World Cup, following Francisco Gomez (1999) and Mike Lopez (2013).

The United States will open its U-20 World Cup schedule on May 30 against Myanmar. New Zealand and Ukraine are also part of the four-team Group A.

This story was originally published May 7, 2015 at 10:22 AM with the headline "Sporting KC defender Erik Palmer-Brown named to U.S. under-20 World Cup roster."