The FIFA U-20 World Cup is a pathway of promise to compete at the highest Youth National Team level, but also a potential path to a FIFA World Cup.
Historically, 44 U.S. Men’s National Team players have competed in the U-20 World Cup and gone on to make a senior team World Cup roster. A testament to the U.S. Way philosophy, which emphasizes increased programming for Youth National Teams to create more opportunities for young players to advance through the pathway to the senior National Team with the goal of representing their country at a world championship.
“This is the biggest stage for this age group [that] they have representing your country in the World Cup,” U-20 MNT head coach Marko Mitrović said. “It’s a great honor, great responsibility, and with that honor is the possibility that they can grow and that can help their careers, and the experience that they are going to have here can help them in future steps in their lives.”
Mitrović named 21 players to the World Cup roster Sept. 19, before the squad kicks off against New Caledonia in the USA’s first match on Monday, Sept. 29 in Rancagua, Chile. Prominent players on this roster could follow in the footsteps of USMNT stars from Tim Howard to Tim Weah.
Ahead of the U-20 World Cup, take a look back at some of the biggest USMNT players who competed in both tournaments:
Tim Howard, 1999 U-20 World Cup
