PHOENIX - Julie Ertz and Jessica McDonald won't be the only Arizona natives competing in a World Cup this summer as Richard Ledezma was named to the U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team by head coach Tab Ramos. 

 

Ledezma will join 20 other players at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup which will be held in Poland from May 23 to June 15. The US kicks off the tournament May 24 against Ukraine, faces Nigeria on May 27 and wraps up group play against Qatar on May 30.

 

Ledezma, a Phoenix native, played locally for Valparaiso United FC before joining the Real Salt Lake Arizona Academy. In July 2018, he was named the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Western Conference Player of the Year for the U-18/19 age group. A few month after this, he signed his first pro deal with Dutch club PSV Eindhoven. On May 4th, he scored his first goal in Europe in a 1-1 draw for the U-19s against NAC Breda.