NYON, Switzerland (June 4, 2025) – The U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team earned a draw and a win in its first two matches at the 2025 UEFA Friendship Cup. Opening the tournament on June 1 against France, the USA played Les Bleus to a 2-2 draw before earning a 5-4 win on penalties and an extra point in the standings. The U.S. then went on to defeat Argentina 2-0 on June 4, to take top spot in Group A.
Below are recaps of the first two matches. The USA will close out Group A play on Saturday, June 7 at 4:45 a.m. ET and the match will be live streamed via UEFA’s YouTube Channel.
Colton Swan opened the scoring for the U.S. early against France. His teammate Justin Ellis chested a throw in up to himself and then flicked a pass in behind the defense to Swan, who easily beat the keeper one-on-one to make it 1-0 in the first minute of the match.
Santiago Morales doubled the lead in the 37th minute. Leonardo Orejarana charged toward the box down the left side and slid a pass to Morales at the top of the area. Morales danced around a few defenders while driving toward the endline before smashing a close-range shot into the top of the net to make it 2-0.
The U.S. nearly held the 2-0 lead for the remainder of the match, but gave up two penalties in stoppage time. France’s Rayane Messi Tanfouri converted from the spot in the second and third minutes of extra time to snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat.
But the USA gained the extra point with its 5-4 shootout win.
-U.S. UNDER-18 MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-
Match: United States U-18 Men's National Team vs. France
Date: June 1, 2025
Competition: International Friendly – 2025 UEFA Friendship Cup
Venue: Colovray Stadium, Colovray Sports Centre, Nyon, Switzerland
Kickoff: 11 a.m. local (5 a.m. ET)
Weather: 80 degrees, sunny
Scoring Summary:
| Scoring Summary |
1 |
2 |
F |
PK |
| USA |
2 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
| FRA |
0 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
| USA – Colton Swan (Justin Ellis) | 1st minute |
| USA – Santiago Morales (Leonardo Orejarena) | 37 |
| USA – Rayane Messi Tanfouri (penalty) | 60 |
| USA – Rayane Messi Tanfouri (penalty) | 88 |
Lineups:
USA: 1- Zackory Campagnolo; 3- Dominik Chong-Qui. (15- Tyson Pearce, 46), 5- Kaiden Moore (14- Braden
Dunham, 61), Jackson Platts, 2- Andrew Baiera;6- Colin Guske, 16- Snyder Brunell (17- Blake willey, 78), 10- Santiago Morales (c) (8- Marvin Dills, 61);7- Leonardo Orejarena (11- Jaidyn Contreras, 46), 20- Justin Ellis (9- Dino Klapija, 61), 19- Colton Swan (18- Nathan Worth, 84)
Subs not used: 12- Kayne Rizvanovich
Absent: 13-Santiago Pita
Head Coach: Marlon LeBlanc
FRA: 1- Ayoube Akabou; 15- Ake Junior, 14- Mustapha Sissoko (13- Axel Dodote, 46), 6- Marius Courcoul (5- Amidou Doumbouya, 57), 3- Iliesse Salhi; 7- Lucas Rosier, 8- Pape Cabral, 19- Luan Gadegbeku, 10- Nadir Eljamali (11- Daryl Bakola, 57), 12- Adama Baradji (18- Rayane Messi Tanfouri, 57); 9- Robinio Vaz (17- Enzo Kanabiyik, 57)
Subs not used: 16- Isaac Doamo
Absent: 2- Yoann Chauvin, 4- Joël Coulibaly, 20- Mathys Detourbet
Head Coach: Landry Chauvin
Stats Summary: USA / FRA
Shots: /
Shots on Goal: 3 / 7
Saves:/
Corner Kicks:3 / 3
Fouls:7 / 8
Offside:1 / 1
| FRA – Robinio Vaz (caution) | 20th minute |
| USA – Jaidyn Contreras (caution) | 75 |
| USA – Zackory Campagnolo (caution) | 90+3 |
Officials:
Referee: Jonathan Jaussi
Assistant Referee 1: Nicolas Morf
Assistant Referee 2: François Bonjour
Fourth Official: Antoine Lehman
