FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. (July 12, 2026) – The U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team fell to Colombia, 1-0, to finish a training camp at the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center, which opened last May.
The USA started a lineup of 10 college players and just one NWSL player in center forward Audrey McKeen from Racing Louisville FC. This match marked the second-ever women’s international match at the newly opened U.S. Soccer National Training Center, following the U.S. U-20 WNT’s 1-1 draw with England on July 9.
The USA outshot Colombia, 12-2, in the first half, and 25-2 for the match, but only created a few dangerous chances before the break. One came in the 10th minute when Notre Dame midfielder Lily Joseph had a point-blankchance off a cross from Florida State defender Jaida McGrew, but Colombia goalkeeper Jimena Ospina smothered the shot from close range.
Against the run of play, Colombia scored in the 21st minute as Catalina Cortes crossed from deep in the right side of the penalty area. Her pass to on the ground to the penalty spot found an unmarked Mariana Silva and she pushed her first-time shot low into the right side of the net past diving U.S. goalkeeper Caroline Birkel. Colombia’s goal came on one of its two shots on goal over the entire match.
The USA made six changes at halftime, sending on four NWSL players, and immediately put the pressure on Colombia, which only managed to get out of its half a few times in the final 45 minutes, albeit on dangerous counter attacks.
Desptie playing the majority of the second half in Colombia’s defensive third, and creating numerous chances, the USA could not create an equalizer. In the 48th minute, Stanford midfielder Y-Lan Nguyen had a shot from close range that was kick-saved by Ospina. Halftime substitute Onyeka Gamero of Bay FC caused issues for Colombia down the left wing all half. Colombia was able to clear out of danger in the 53rd minute after a goal mouth scramble initiated by a Gamero cross.
Kansas City Current defender Katie Scott smashed a shot off the top of the crossbar from close range in the 55th after another scramble inside the six-yard box and Louisville defender Ella Bard shot just wide in the 68th off a well-worked set piece from Scott that she took from just outside the right side of the penalty box. Virginia midfielder Addison Halpern then sent a header right at Ospina in the 69th off a cross from Scott.
Washingon forward Alex Buck had a header in the 79th that bounced wide right of the goal and then had a shot from the right side of the penalty area in the 87th that Ospina dove to push out for a corner kick.
The game was stopped with a little more than two minutes remaining in five minutes off stoppage time due to lightning in the area, and it was decided to end that match at that time.
The age cut-off for the 2026 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup is players born on or after Jan. 1, 2006. The USA, England and Colombia are all preparing for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland. This was the final training camp for the U.S. U-20s before head coach Vicky Jepson chooses the 21 players who will represent the USA at that tournament.
The USA will open Group D play at the World Cup on Sunday, Sept. 6 against Italy (Noon ET / 6 p.m. local), then faces 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finalists Japan on Wednesday, Sept. 9 (9 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. local) and finishes the group stage vs. New Zealand on Saturday, Sept. 12 (9 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. local). The U.S. will play its first and second group games at Stadion Miejski LKS Lodz in Lodz and its final group game at Arena Sosnowiec in Sosnowiec. England will face Brazil, Canada and Tanzania in Group B. Colombia will face North Korea, Portugal and Costa Rica in Group E.
These matches are a part of the Federation’s continued focus on 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.
-U.S. UNDER-20 WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-
Match: United States U-20 Women's National Team vs. Colombia U-20 Women’s National Team
Date: July 12, 2026
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center – Field 1; Fayetteville, Ga.
Kickoff Time: 6 p.m. ET
Weather: 81 degrees, sunny
| Scoring Summary |
1 |
2 |
F |
| USA |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| COL |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| COL – Mariana Silva (Catalina Cortes) | 22nd minute |
Lineups:
USA: 1-Caroline Birkel (72-Kealey Titmuss, 73); 23-Jaida McGrew (13-Katie Scott, 46), 5-Lizzie Boamah (Capt.) (15-Zoe Matthews, 46), 14-Pearl Cecil (4-Ella Bard, 46), 2-Aven Alvarez (18-Hope Munson, 65); 6-Y-Lan Nguyen (22-Addison Halpern, 65), 16-Kiera Kemmerley (8-Peyton McGovern, 46), 19-Lily Joseph (10-Sofia Cedeno, 46); 17-Sealey Strawn (7-Micayla Johnson, 73); 24-Audrey McKeen (9-Alex Buck, 65), 20-Kylie Maxwell(11-Onyeka Gamero, 46)
Subs not used: 3-Emma Johnson, 21-Evan O’Steen
Head Coach: Vicky Jepson
COL: 12-Jimena Ospina; 5-Maria Jose Torres, 14-Fernanda Viafara, 19-Mercedes Martinez, 3-Lina Arboleda; 13-Catalina Cortes (15-Samantha Rodriguez, 46), 16-Juana Ortegón (Capt.), 4-Brenda Cardona (6-Isabel Weiner, 62), 10-Mariana Silva (18-Eliana Agudelo, 81); 7-Isabella Diaz (8-Mariana Mosquera, 46), 11-Valerin Loboa (9-Valentina Rojas, 81)
Subs not used: 1-Sophia Quiroga, 2-Sara Bohorquez, 17-Maria Baldovino, 20-Rocio Olaya, 21-Katerine Osorio, 22-Luisa Hernandez, 23-Sofia Ortiz
Head Coach: Carlos Paniagua
Stats Summary: USA / COL
Shots: 25 / 2
Shots on Goal: 10 / 2
Saves: 1 / 9
Corner Kicks: 5 / 0
Fouls: 12 / 15
Offside: 0 / 3
| Misconduct Summary |
| COL – Isabella Diaz (Caution) | 38th minute |
| COL – Mariana Silva (Caution) | 76 |
| USA – Alex Buck (Caution) | 89 |
Officials:
Referee: Justin Higgins (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Tyler Bost (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Mustapha Moshood (USA)
Fourth Official: Christopher Hagerty (USA)
