James Sands began 2019 as a young prospect considered a long shot for regular minutes with New York City FC, and someone unlikely to be part of Tab Ramos's Under-20 World Cup plans.
Four months into the year, Sands has become a consistent starter for NYCFC, and is playing well enough to be considered a contender for the U.S. U-20 World Cup team.
Sands has started all nine NYCFC matches this season – including a solid 90-minute shift in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Orlando City – and has done so playing two different positions. After starting the season in a defensive midfield role, the 18-year-old has made a smooth transition to the middle center-back role in NYCFC's three-man defense. He has been integral to NYCFC's recent turnaround, which has seen Dome Torrent's side put together a five-match unbeaten streak.
Despite his impressive run of form and the fact he leads all U.S. U-20 national team pool players in MLS minutes played, Sands is still considered a long-shot to make Ramos's team, though his versatility and consistent playing time has boosted his stock and given him some hope that he can be a surprise inclusion.
"As much as I say it isn't on my mind, it's always going to be in the back of my head," Sands told Goal when asked about making the U.S. U-20 World Cup team. "I haven't really been in the loop for that cycle. My first priority is with NYCFC, [the U-20 World Cup] would be nice, but I'm focused on my club situation."
Sands has successfully beaten out more experienced players for playing time in 2019, including another U.S. U-20 midfielder in Juan Pablo Torres, and a USMNT pool midfielder in Keaton Parks. Few could have imagined his emergence as a regular starter after a modest 2018 that saw him make three starts last summer. His steady play, first in midfield, and more recently in central defense, has won over Torrent and impressed his teammates.
"He's shown that he can not only play in the middle of the back three, but can also step into the midfield," goalkeeper Sean Johnson told Goal. "He's got the soccer IQ of a player that's been playing years and years. I've seen a lot of young players come in and obviously it's a lot to be tossed in for seven, eight straight games, and he's handled it really well."
Sands is facing stiff competition for a place on the U.S. U-20 World Cup squad, where Ramos has a plethora of central midfield options, including Alex Mendez, Richie Ledezma and Frankie Amaya, and where the central defense has some established figures in Mark McKenzie, Chris Richards and Aboubacar Keita. Working in Sands' favor is his versatility, along with the fact he's seeing more playing time than several of the aforementioned options.
"Not everyone in that group is playing consistent minutes so I think that works in my favor," said Sands, who has played more first-team club minutes in 2019 than all the aforementioned players combined.
Sands is no stranger to international competition, having been a key starter for the United States at the U-17 World Cup in 2017. With two more weeks to go before Tab Ramos names his U-20 World Cup squad, Sands is still far from a sure bet to make the team, but he has secured the confidence of his club coach and should continue to earn chances to impress as he gains both confidence and experience.
"Knowing that if I play really well that [Torrent] will give me another opportunity, but even if I don't have my best game it's not one and done," Sands said. "I think that's helped my confidence and helped me on the field.
"Also the away games we played, against Minnesota and D.C., I think really helped me because after that I feel like I can go anywhere and feel comfortable."
Could Sands eventually add Poland and the U-20 World Cup to that list? If he continues to play well for NYCFC, he could make it very difficult for Ramos to pass on him.