U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team ready to kickoff 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup

The U.S. Under-20 Men’s Youth National Team will kick off its journey at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup on Monday, Sept. 29 vs. New Caledonia (7 p.m. ET; FS1, Universo).

The USA enters the tournament as the only nation to reach the quarterfinals of the last four U-20 World Cups and one of two countries to qualify for the last five editions alongside New Zealand. The tournament opener will be a World Cup debut for New Caledonia.

The U.S. continues Group E play against France on Thursday, Oct. 2 (4 p.m. ET; FS2, Universo) and closes the group stage vs. South Africa on Sunday, Oct. 5 (4 p.m. ET; FS2, Telemundo). All three matches will be played at Estadio El Teniente in Rancagua, located in central Chile.

The FIFA U-20 World Cup will be broadcast in English on Fox Sports platforms and on the Fox Sports app with corresponding authentication. Matches will be broadcast in Spanish on Telemundo platforms and the Telemundo app.

Fans can follow all of the action from Argentina on ussoccer.com as well as U.S. Soccer Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

2025 FIFA U-20 WORLD CUP – USA GROUP E SCHEDULE

2025 FIFA U-20 WORLD CUP ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB/COUNTRY; U-20 CAPS/GOALS; HOMETOWN)

GOALKEEPERS (3): 12-Adam Beaudry (Colorado Rapids; Castle Pines, Colo.; 7/0),

21-Duran Ferree (San Diego FC; San Diego, Calif.; 1/0), 1-Diego Kochen (FC Barcelona/ESP; Miramar, Fla.; 5/0)

DEFENDERS (7): 2-Reed Baker-Whiting (Seattle Sounders; Seattle, Wash.; 7/0), 18-Luca Bombino (San Diego FC; Saugus, Calif.; 9/0), 5-Noah Cobb (Colorado Rapids; Chattanooga, Tenn.; 13/0), 16-Ethan Kohler (SC Verl/GER; Campbell, Calif.; 12/1), 3-Nolan Norris (FC Dallas; Fort Worth, Texas; 16/0), 17-Francis Westfield (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.; 7/0), 4-Joshua Wynder (Benfica/POR; Louisville, Ky.; 11/1)

MIDFIELDERS (6): 19-Matthew Corcoran (Nashville SC; Dallas, Texas; 5/1), 8-Benjamin Cremaschi (Parma/ITA; Key Biscayne, Fla.; 9/2), 14-Taha Habroune (Columbus Crew; Columbus, Ohio; 14/2), 6-Brooklyn Raines (Houston Dynamo; Chicago, Ill.; 15/1), 15-Pedro Soma (San Diego FC; Coconut Creek, Fla.; 15/2), 10-Niko Tsakiris (San Jose Earthquakes; Saratoga, Calif.; 23/8)

FORWARDS (5): 11-Luke Brennan (Atlanta United; Atlanta, Ga.; 10/2), 7-Cole Campbell (Borussia Dortmund/GER; Peachtree City, Ga.; 3/0), 20-Zavier Gozo (Real Salt Lake; Eagle Mountain, Utah; 11/2), 13-Peyton Miller (New England Revolution; Unionville, Conn.; 6/1), 9-Marcos Zambrano (Real Salt Lake; Gladwyne, Pa.; 13/6)

REPPIN’ THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE

Players born on or after Jan. 1, 2005, are age-eligible for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World

Cup. Mitrović selected 11 players born in 2005, eight born in 2006 and two born in

2007. The youngest members of the USA’s 2023 U-20 World Cup roster, defender Joshua Wynder and midfielder Niko Tsakiris, return for a second edition of the tournament, while forwards Peyton Miller and Zavier Gozo are also age-eligible for the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

The roster features players from 19 clubs, including 16 from 12 different Major League Soccer teams. San Diego FC leads the way with three selections, followed by two each from Colorado Rapids and Real Salt Lake. Five players are based abroad: two in Germany, and one player each in Italy, Portugal and Spain.

Additionally, Chris Applewhite (Nashville SC) and Edward Davis (Philadelphia Union) will join the team as training players for the week leading up to the tournament.

ROAD TO CHILE

The USA qualified for the 2025 U-20 World Cup after a runner-up finish at the 2024 Concacaf U-20 Championship in Mexico. The USA rolled through the group stage with wins against Jamaica (9-0), Cuba (4-0) and Costa Rica (1-0), before a 1-0 quarterfinal victory against Guatemala and 2-1 semifinal win over Panama. Despite taking the lead, the USA fell 2-1 in extra time to hosts Mexico in the final.

Twelve players from the Concacaf qualifying roster return for the World Cup:

goalkeepers Adam Beaudry and Duran Ferree; defenders Luca Bombino, Noah Cobb, Ethan Kohler and Nolan Norris; midfielders Taha Habroune, Brooklyn Raines, Pedro Soma and Niko Tsakiris; and forwards Zavier Gozo and Marcos Zambrano.

ABOUT THE FIFA U-20 WORLD CUP

The 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup will feature 24 countries divided into six groups of four teams. The top two finishers in each group, as well as the four best third-place teams advance to the Round of 16. From there, the tournament will feature a knockout bracket to the tournament final.

All three of the USA’s group stage games will be played at Estadio El Teniente in Rancagua. The capital city of Santiago, as well as Talca and Valparaiso will also serve as hosts for the tournament.

SPRINGBOARD TO SENIOR USMNT

A who’s who of MNT all-timers have played in the U-20 World Cup. In total, 43 players have represented the USA in both a U-20 and senior World Cup tournament. Former U-20 MNT head coach Tab Ramos was a part of the USA’s second U-20 World Cup squad in 1983 at just 16 years old. Jeff Agoos, Marcelo Balboa, Tony Meola and Keller all played the 1987 edition in Chile. In 1999, Carlos Bocanegra, Steve Cherundolo and Tim Howard were part of the USA team in Nigeria, while Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley and Oguchi Onyewu represented the red, white and blue in 2001 in Argentina. Eddie Johnson and Clint Dempsey took the field for the U.S. in Saudi Arabia in 2003.

More recently, nine players that represented the USA at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar previously featured on the global stage as U-20s: Kellyn Acosta (2015), Tyler Adams (2017), Cameron Carter-Vickers (2015, 2017), Luca de la Torre (2017), Sergiño Dest (2019), Sean Johnson (2009), Shaq Moore (2015), Josh Sargent (2017) and Tim Weah (2019).

U-20 WC HISTORY

The United States has qualified for 18 of 24 all-time U-20 World Cups, tied for second-most with Argentina. The biennial tournament was staged for the first time in 1977 and Tunisia hosted the inaugural event, originally held as the FIFA World Youth Championship before becoming the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2007. The USA’s first qualification came at the 1981 tournament, which was held in Australia.

The USA has made it out of the group stage 12 times at the competition with the high watermark coming in 1989. Led by future legendary USMNT goalkeeper Kasey Keller, the U.S. finished fourth place in Saudi Arabia that year. Keller took home the Silver Ball at the tournament, while fellow future senior team players Mike Burns, Neil Covone and Chris Henderson also played key roles. While the U-20s advanced from group play with just one win, the USA took down Iraq in the quarterfinals before falling in extra time to Nigeria in the semis.

LAST TIME OUT

In Argentina 2023, the USA finished at the top of Group B with a perfect 3W-0L-0D record, outscoring opponents 6-0 in the process. The young Americans extended their clean sheet streak to four matches in the Round of 16, defeating New Zealand 4-0. The U.S. fell to the eventual champion for the second tournament in a row when it lost to Uruguay 2-0 in the quarterfinals. The USA finished fifth overall and was awarded the FIFA Fair Play Award. Four players from the squad have since featured for the senior USMNT.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

In addition to his assistant coaches Michael Morris and Sean Hughes, and his goalkeeper coach Jason Batty, head coach Marko Mitrović has an additional staff of 30 people who will provide support for the players and coaches during the entirety of the World Cup

The staff includes video analysts, sports scientists, athletic trainers, physical therapist, doctors, team administrators, security, equipment managers, a chef, chaplain, content creation and communications, talent ID scouts, youth national team directors, and sporting analytics.

Austin Reynolds, Tristan Chapman, Nicole Rodriguez, Aric Turner, Patrick Mannix, Ryan Collins, Damien Franolich, Mike Shirilla, Mat Pombo, Vijay Jotwani, Sanjeev Malik, Peyton Cabot, Charlie Kruger, Cesar Correa, Nathan Passarelli, Kyle Rhoses, David Russell, Rob Valentino, H. José Bosch, Jeff Crandall, Aaron Deloach, Michael Long, Conor Furey, Patrick Gabrysiak, Barry Pauwels, Garrett Biller, Tony Lepore, Eric Laurie, Jack Robinson, and Natasha Patel.

USA VS. NEW CALEDONIA

• Monday will mark the USA’s first-ever meeting with New Caledonia at the U-20 World Cup.
• Eighteen players on New Caledonia’s 21-man roster are based domestically.

NEW CALEDONIA – 2025 FIFA U-20 WORLD CUP ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB)

GOALKEEPERS (3): Emmanuel Wahnapo (Wetr), G. Wathiepel (Ne Drehu), Noah Bouchet-Muller (Cavigal Nice/FRA)

DEFENDERS (6): Wadria Hanye (Tiga Sport), Tamumue Ajapuhnya (Lössi), Lomani Nahiet (Hienghène Sport), Yann Wahaga (Hienghène Sport), Timotei Zeter (Hienghène Sport), Kandjo Teanyouen (Blélep)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Patrick Ouka (Tiga Sport), Jytrhim Upa (Tiga Sport), Kapone Xulue (Mont-Dore), Damien Ujicas (Magenta), Yazid Wajoka (Magenta), Joseph Hnaissilin (Lössi), E. Vakie (Kunié), Antony Levy (Blélep)

FORWARDS (4): Antoin Simane (Magenta), K. Wawalahae (Gaïca), Nolhann Alebate (Bastia/FRA), Louis Brunet (Free Agent)

HOW THEY GOT HERE:

New Caledonia officially qualified for the U-20 World Cup following a thrilling come-from-behind 3-2 win over the Solomon Islands in the semifinals of the OFC U-19 Men’s Championship. After initially trailing 2-1, Antoine Simane scored a late equalizer in the 88th minute to send the match into extra time. Then in the 118th minute, Paul Qaeze scored the game-winner to send his team to its maiden World Cup. Les Cagous finished second at the 2024 OFC U-19 Men’s Championship, falling to New Zealand 4-0 in the final.

TOURNAMENT NOTES:

• Players born on or after Jan. 1, 2005 are age-eligible for this tournament.
• Single yellow cards will be absolved after the quarterfinal round.
• Two yellow cards received during two different matches will result in suspension for the following match.
• If a player is sent off as a result of a direct or indirect red card, he will be suspended for the following match.
• Should teams be tied on points at the end of the group stage, the tie-breakers are as follows:

1. Goal difference in all group matches
2. Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches

• If two or more teams are still tied on the basis of the first three criteria, the ranking will be determined as follows:

1. Greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned
2. Goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned
3. Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned
4. Highest team conduct score relating to yellow and red cards obtained (yellow card = -1 point, indirect red card = -3 points, direct red card = -4 points, yellow card and direct red card = -5 points)
5. Drawing of lots

• Third-placed teams will be ranked as follows:

1. Greatest number of points obtained in all group matches
2. Goal difference in all group matches
3. Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches
4. Highest team conduct score relating to yellow and red cards obtained
5. Drawing of lots

• In the knockout stages, if a match is tied at the end of regulation, two fifteen-minute periods of extra time will be played. If the score is still tied, there will be a penalty-kick shootout.
• Opened in 1947, Estadio El Teniente will host all three of the USA’s group stage matches.
• The venue also hosted seven matches of the 1962 FIFA World Cup and two matches for the 2015 Copa America.