The squad includes two senior national team members Paul Collins and Tor-Lawrence Mana’o, both with youth international caps to their names.
However, the team is relatively young with seven of them eligible to play in the upcoming OFC U-17 Championship Preliminary tournament in early July in Samoa.
There are also four overseas based players in the squad, with one player from Seattle another from Arizona and two from Hawaii.
Football Federation American Samoa President Faiivae Iuli Alex Godinet wished the players good luck at their official farewell luncheon with their parents on Sunday.
“You have all been training hard for several months and the executive committee and I expect that you will give it your best.
“Play hard and put everything you have out on the field,” added the FFAS president.
“You are playing for your country, for yourselves and for one another.”
American Samoa will face neighbouring Samoa in their opening match on 21 June, before their meeting with hosts Tonga three days later and their final match against the Cook Islands in 27 June.
“The boys have been training hard and are looking forward to finally competing after practicing for so long,” said the team’s coach, Sione Mau.
“We hope for the best and are thankful to the president and committee for their trust in us as well as their words of encouragement.”
As part of the official luncheon the U-20 and 17 teams joined the Holy Cross parish in Leone for their regular morning mass conducted by Rev. Kolio Etuale.
Etuale urged the players to have faith in themselves and prayed for their well being and safe return home.
He also wished them the best of luck and thanked them for joining the Leone Holy Cross Parish mass that morning.
Vice-president Sandra Fruean and treasurer Amio Mavaega-Luvu were also on hand during the church service along with the parents of the players.
“Our boys know that it is going to be difficult to try to advance to the second stage because we have never advanced in this format,” Taumua pointed out.
“And they have worked hard and plan to work hard in trying to get us to the next stage.”
“It’s time for them to use what we’ve been teaching them and we thank you all for your prayers and support,” Luvu added.