USA will return to the FIFA U-20 World Cup™ after finishing as runners-up to Mexico in the 2024 CONCACAF U-20 Championship.
The Americans dominated the group stage with a 100 per cent record before booking their place at what will be their 18th edition of the global showpiece – only Brazil have qualified for more – with a narrow 1-0 victory over Guatemala in the quarter-finals.
After defeating Panama 2-1 in the semi-finals, USA took a 1-0 lead through Nimfasha Berchimas in the decider but hosts Mexico went on to win 2-1 after extra time.
The Stars and Stripes have reached the quarter-finals of the past four FIFA U-20 World Cups, while their best result at this competition came in 1989, when a team that included future national team goalkeeper Kasey Keller finished fourth.
USA’s Group E fixtures
29 September
USA-New Caledonia (19:00 local time, Estadio El Teniente)
2 October
USA-France (16:00 local time, Estadio El Teniente)
5 October
South Africa-USA (16:00 local time, Estadio El Teniente)
The coach: Marko Mitrovic
After leading USA to the quarter-finals of the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament for the first time since 2000, Marko Mitrovic was appointed U-20 coach last October. Since the Serbian-American took control of the team, USA have registered impressive victories over Chile, Korea Republic, France and Mexico, and secured a draw with Japan. Most recently, they defeated Colombia 1-0 and lost to Norway by the same scoreline in June.
A versatile midfielder, Mitrovic had a long playing career in Europe before going into coaching in 2011. Following a stint with Serbia’s U-15s, he spent four years as an assistant coach at Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire. He joined the USA national team set-up in 2022, when he was appointed head coach of the U19s before taking the reins at the U23 Olympic team.
Star player: Benjamin Cremaschi
In a team full of global icons such as Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets, winger Benjamin Cremaschi has been one of Inter Miami CF’s most consistent and exciting attacking players in the past two years. Still just 20, the South Florida native earned rave reviews for his performances on the global stage at the recent FIFA Club World Cup 2025™.
Born to Argentinian parents, Cremaschi began his international career with the USA U19s before being called up to a training camp with the Argentina U20s under Javier Mascherano, who would go on to become his club coach in Miami. Cremaschi then committed to the USA national set-up and he was the youngest player in the Olympic squad which reached the quarter-finals in Paris.
One to watch: Keyrol Figueroa
The son of former Honduras international Maynor Figueroa thrust himself on the international stage when he scored seven goals in as many games for USA at the 2023 Concacaf U-17 Championship. Born in Honduras, the striker was also part of the USA squad at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Indonesia 2023™, where he found the target against Burkina Faso in the group stage.
Figueroa was first discovered by FC Dallas, where he starred in the academy while his father was a regular for the senior side. A well-rounded centre-forward, who can hold up the ball, play with his back to goal and link play, the 18-year-old has since risen up through the ranks at Liverpool FC since joining the club aged 14, signing a professional contract last year.
Picture credits: Concacaf
