http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlin...279013&cc=5901
Teenage star begins training Oct. 5
CHICAGO -- In a surprise move, teenage superstar Freddy Adu on Monday was added to the roster of the United States Under-20 team and could play in his second World Cup this year.
The U.S. national team will compete in the Under-20 World Cup from November 27-December 19 in the United Arab Emirates.
Adu, 14, was listed on coach Thomas Rongen's roster for training camp from October 5-9 in Carson, California, which includes a friendly match against Japan. It is the final training session for the team before the tournament, which was postponed last March due to the war in Iraq.
The move came weeks after Rongen denied he would add Adu, citing team chemistry. Adu never has played with the Under-20 team but has competed against it -- and the full U.S. national team -- in training while a member of the Under-17 squad.
Under FIFA rules, any player is eligible to participate once in each youth World Cup. If Adu makes an appearance in the United Arab Emirates, he may get a look for the final age-eligible competition, the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.
Having already signed a million dollar deal with Nike, Adu is the focus of speculation by English Premier League giants Manchester United and Arsenal. He raised his star status even higher last month when he scored four times to lead the U.S. Under-17 team to a quarterfinal berth at the FIFA Youth World Cup in Finland.
Adu also has been scouted by U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena and could play in the 2006 World Cup at the age of 17.