The FIFA U-20 World Cup™ is old hat for Joshua Wynder. The USA centre-back featured in four of his country’s five matches at Argentina 2023 and is now poised for another knockout-stage run at Chile 2025 heading into their Group E finale against South Africa on Sunday.
His experience at this stage has made him a sort of a father figure for the rest of the squad, but he is also quick to keep things loose among his team-mates, calling himself the “clown” of the team. It just might be the right balance that keeps this USA team on track for their first U-20 World Cup semi-final since 1989.
The Louisville, Kentucky native sat down with FIFA to talk about his collective and personal goals in Chile, what it means to play in such a prestigious tournament and his first impressions of new head coach Jose Mourinho at club side Benfica.
Joshua Wynder: Yes, for sure. I think in South America, football is different than everywhere else, but I think everywhere has unique styles and ways they play football. Here in South America things feel a little bit different, but I think most players here have experienced it once before.
It’s a dream come true. I think every player who plays football for clubs also dreams about representing their country on a level like this, so it’s definitely a dream come true for me.
Yes, for sure. I think it’s an honor for me to be here with the team. The first World Cup was an honor also, but this one feels a little bit different. Just to be here with this group, a different group, a great group of guys, everyone is very tight-knit, so I think this feeling is a little bit different for me.
Of course. I think it just shows what can happen at this tournament. If you put yourself out there and play the best you can, anything can happen, so I think that’s why this tournament is special.
It’s an amazing feeling. I think everyone feels that kind of feeling or vibe from this tournament. The great players before us have done it, so why can’t we?
Of course. I think this tournament will give everyone an experience that will help them in their careers. Good experience or bad experience, no matter what. I think you can take something from this tournament that will help you further along down the line.
It was a great tournament. Obviously, for me, it didn’t end the way I wanted, but it’s one of those moments, like I said, that gives you an experience that helps you along in your career.
I learned that there are difficult moments in games and you have to learn to control the emotions of games, keep your head straight and focus every moment of the game because one slip-up can change a lot.
I think the strength of our team is not just the individual players that have great technical ability and all that, I think it’s our team off the pitch. I think we have a great vibe, everyone’s close to each other. It’s just one big group or family.
I would say I’m one of the fathers, for sure. I don’t know if the other guys would think the same, but the father and also a clown, maybe.
I just try to keep the energy light, try to keep people’s minds off of the games until it’s time to get ready because if you’re just thinking about it all the time, you’re just going to feel pressure, get more nervous, so I’m trying to take as much of that away as possible.
I would like to be remembered as a leader, someone who would do anything for the team, a selfless player, just a player that will leave everything on the field for the team.
I try to go day by day, so obviously that’s something in the back of my head that I think every player is thinking about, every player is dreaming about, but it will take a lot of work and dedication to get to that moment, so I’m just trying to focus on the now, and the now is this World Cup, so I’m just trying to do the best I can.
If a player comes here and does amazing, then obviously the senior coach will see it, the senior coach and staff will be watching, so anything can happen, anything is possible, but you just have to focus on what you’re doing now.
He’s a legendary coach, he’s a legend. I think any player is grateful to work with him. He’s a great coach, it was amazing to meet him and the two trainings I had before I came here, so I’m excited to get back and work with him.
