This isn't how it was supposed to go for Frankie Amaya.
The first-overall pick in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft by FC Cincinnati, Amaya, and the national soccer community learned Friday he wouldn't be included in the U.S. Under-20 national team FIFA World Cup squad.
The Tab Ramos-coached American team's participation in the competition begins later this month, but Ramos didn't select Amaya for the squad despite Amaya's prominent role in helping the U.S. qualify for the tournament last year.
After not playing much early in the season for FC Cincinnati, he surged late in the World Cup roster selection process with increasingly regular appearances for FC Cincinnati as well as during a short-term loan with Orange County SC.
Frankie Amaya the number 1 overall pick of the 2019 draft, speaks about heading to FC Cincinnati. Albert Cesare, firstname.lastname@example.org
Amaya was recalled from the loan and started at San Jose Earthquakes which, despite the 1-0 loss by Cincinnati, revealed Amaya to be one of the best players on the field for FCC that night.
But it was too late for Amaya's World Cup push.
"Obviously, we are very disappointed for Frankie that he wasn't selected for the U20 World Cup," FC Cincinnati President and General Manager Jeff Berding told The Enquirer on Friday via text message. "The roster competition for this U20 cycle has arguably been the most competitive in recent memory. But as he showed in his MLS start (against San Jose), Frankie has an incredible future ahead of him and we look forward to his continued development here at FC Cincinnati."
The consequences aren't all bad.
FC Cincinnati will benefit from having the fast-developing Amaya in its own camp as the MLS regular season progresses.
The plan all along was for Amaya to travel for the World Cup, and gain experience and vital value. There's a lot for Amaya to feel good about despite the World Cup snub, but it's undeniable that this isn't how FC Cincinnati wanted Amaya's 2019 to go.