Austin FC will get to bring more players than usual to its Leagues Cup competition.
Rosters released by MLS on Wednesday show that Austin FC has designated 28 players eligible for selection during the month-long tournament between July 21 and August 19. According to tournament regulations, each team can put up to 30 players on their tournament roster.
However, according to those regulations, "The matchday lineups will be the definitive list with a maximum of twenty-three (23) and a minimum of eighteen (18) player names, including three (3) goalkeepers being mandatory."
Regular Austin FC II players elevated to Leagues Cup status include CJ Fodrey (who has first-team status), Valentin Noël, Cheick Toure, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Micah Burton, and perhaps with the three-goalkeeper rule in mind, as well as his excellent Goalie Wars performance at the All-Star Game, Damian Las.
Most of the first-team roster made the cut, including new loanee Brandan Craig, though Charlie Asensio and Amro Tarek did not.
Austin FC will begin its Leagues Cup journey on Friday hosting Mazatlán at Q2 Stadium.
The full list includes (according to their designation on the official roster, and in order of presentation):
Goalkeepers (3)
Brad Stuver, Damian Las, Matt Bersano
Defenders (8)
Kipp Keller, Hector Jimenez, Jon Gallagher, Julio Cascante, Adam Lundkvist, Nick Lima, Brandan Craig, Cheick Toure
Midfielders (10)
Jhojan Valencia, Dani Pereira, Alex Ring, Ethan Finlay, Diego Fagúndez, Sofiane Djeffal, Valentin Noël, Owen Wolff, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Micah Burton
Forwards (7)
Emiliano Rigoni, Gyasi Zardes, Sebastián Driussi, Rodney Redes, CJ Fodrey, Will Bruin, Maxi Urruti