United States U-20 Women’s National Team Advance to Round of 16 in U-20 World Cup

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The United States U-20 Women’s National Team has officially advanced the Round of 16 in the U-20 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Poland, despite finishing third place in their group. Now, the team faces another challenge as they are set to go head-to-head with a strong Brazil side on Wednesday, September 16 at 6:00 a.m. PT.

Perhaps the most anticipated matchup in the Round of 16, the United States, who went 1-1-1 in the group stage of the tournament, face Brazil, who went 3-0-0, collecting nine points and a +7 goal differential en route to finishing atop Group B.

Brazil is a familiar opponent for the United States, as the teams met twice in April at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. In total, 15 players on the World Cup roster were called into the April camp. In this two-match series, the U.S. won the first match 2-0 and the drew the second match 1-1 in a meeting that was cut short due to inclement weather. Reign FC midfielder Ainsley McCammon recorded an assist in the first match against Brazil.

FULL MATCH INFO

September 16

Round of 16 / 6:00 a.m. PT / Brazil vs. USA / Arena Katowice in Katowice, Poland / FS2 and Universo

HOW THEY GOT HERE: USA GROUP STAGE RECAP

Game 1: 2-1 Loss to Italy

In the first-ever meeting between the two sides, the U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team fell 2-1 to Italy. The U.S. scored the first goal of the match in the 18th minute, when Reign FC forward Emeri Adames received a pass out to the left side of the field from defender Lizzie Boamah. Adames nutmegged her defender before cutting inside and playing a ball across the face of goal. Despite Italy’s goalkeeper getting a small touch on the ball, it continued through to Micayla Johnson, who tapped it into the back of the net with her left foot.

Italy settled into the match and scored two unanswered goals to earn the win. In the 40th minute, Italian forward Karen Appiah had her first-time shot saved by the foot of U.S. goalkeeper Caroline Birkel, but midfielder Paola Fadda was there to finish the rebound. The result was sealed in the 59th minute of the match, when forward Giulia Galli took possession of the ball on the left wing and crossed it to Pellegrino Cimo. Much like the goal the United States scored, Birkel was able to get her hand on the cross, but couldn’t stop it from making it to Cimo, who made no mistake as she tapped the game-winner home.

Game 2: 2-2 Draw with Japan

The United States and Japan drew 2-2 in hard fought match that left everything on the table for the Stars and Stripes’ final group stage match against New Zealand.

The United States scored first once again, making the most of a corner kick won in the 35th minute when Adames had a cross deflected over the endline. Kennedy Fuller, a fellow NWSL player, directed the ensuing corner kick into the six-yard box, where Reign FC midfielder Ainsley McCammon finished it from close range. The goal marked her first at the U-20 international level.

Japan pulled one back in the 74th minute when the U.S. conceded possession and Miyu Matsunaga played a through ball for Natsumi Tago to finish. The United States retook their lead just a minute later as Boamah played a long ball to Linda Ullmark. She carried the ball forward at an impressive speed before finding Alex Buck’s run to the left side of the 18-yard box. Buck coolly slotted her shot into the back of the net, making the score 2-1 in favor of the Americans.

However, in the 83rd minute, Mone Sato fed a ball to Konoha Nakamura, who fired off a stunning shot to level the score and ultimately force the teams to split the points in the match.

Game 3: 9-0 Win Over New Zealand

The United States left nothing to chance as they rolled through New Zealand 9-0 in their final group stage match to secure a place in the Round of 16. The 9-0 victory set a record for the largest margin of victory ever for a U.S. team at a FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, surpassing the 7-0 win over Paraguay in 2024 in Colombia.

The U.S. opened the scoring just four minutes into the match, when Adames lofted a cross into the box, forcing the goalkeeper to punch it out of danger. The punch went to the feet of Hope Munson, who dribbled to the endline and crossed the ball into the six-yard box, where Buck first-touched it into the back of the net.

The United States added three more goals before halftime, one of which was assisted by Adames. The Reign FC forward also earned the assist on the opening goal of the second half before scoring a goal of her own in the 60th minute to bring the score to 6-0.

Three more goals from the United States brought the match to a close and guaranteed their spot in the Round of 16.

REIGN FC PLAYER CHECK IN

Emeri Adames

Adames started in all three group stage matches, playing a total of 225 minutes, including a 90-minute shift against Japan. She recorded her first goal contribution of the tournament against Italy, when she assisted the United States’ opening goal of the tournament.

She also added a goal and two assists in the United States’ dominant 9-0 win over New Zealand. The goal marked her first World Cup goal and her third goal at the U-20 level. She has eight World Cup assists across all levels. One assist at the 2022 FIFA U-17 WWC, four at the 2024 FIFA U-20 WWC and three in the current tournament.

Ainsley McCammon

McCammon posted back-to-back 90-minute performances against Italy and Japan, adding one goal against Japan. The goal marked her first at the U-20 level and was the opening goal of the match.

She did not play in the final group stage match for precautionary reasons after suffering a minor knock in the days preceding the match.

Evan O’Steen

Reign FC goalkeeper Evan O’Steen has not yet made an appearance in the U-20 World Cup but was available on the bench for all three group stage matches.