United States women's national under-20 soccer team

The United States U-20 women's national soccer team is a youth soccer team operated under the auspices of U.S. Soccer. Its primary role is the development of players in preparation for the senior women's national team. The team most recently appeared in the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in France, where they failed to progress from the group stage for the first time in the competition's history. The team competes in a variety of competitions, including the biennial FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, which is the top competition for this age group.

United States under-20
Nickname(s)Team USA
The Stars and Stripes
The Yanks
AssociationUnited States Soccer Federation
ConfederationCONCACAF (North America)
Head coachTracey Kevins
Most capsMaya Hayes (43)
Top scorerKelly Wilson (31)
FIFA codeUSA
First colors
Second colors
CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship
Appearances12 (first in 2002)
Best resultChampions (2006, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2020, 2022)
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
Appearances10 (first in 2002)
Best resultChampions (2002, 2008, 2012)

History

Beginnings as a U-18 program

The United States U-20 team has been active since 1998; however, it was run as a U-18 team from its inception until 2001.[1] It was led by Shannon Higgins-Cirovski, the first coach in the team's history, through the middle of 1999 before she left for the Maryland Terrapins soccer team. Jay Hoffman, who served as Higgins-Cirovski's assistant, took charge of the team and led them to a gold medal for the 1999 Pan American Games, the first time the tournament was open to women's teams. Among the U-18 women playing at the 1999 Pan American Games were future senior national team members Cat Whitehill and Hope Solo.[2]

2001 through 2003

In 2001, the United States Soccer Federation decided to change the age limit from the U-18 team to U-19. The move was in preparation for FIFA's introduction of the first ever FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship (which has since changed). The new U-19 squad won the inaugural 2002 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship in Canada, where they beat the hosts on a golden goal by captain and future United States women's national team mainstay Lindsay Tarpley. Five other members of that same team would join Tarpley as teammates on the senior international team: Rachel Buehler, Lori Chalupny, Heather O'Reilly, Leslie Osborne and Angie Woznuk. Other notable 2002 team members were Kelly Wilson, the all-time leading goal scorer in the history of the U-20 team, as well as two-time Hermann Trophy winner Kerri Hanks, who would go on to become one of the most decorated players in women's collegiate soccer.

2004

In 2004, the U-19 team placed third at the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship in Thailand, after having been defeated by Germany in the semifinals.[3] The tournament marked the world championship debut of future senior national team members Yael Averbuch, Stephanie Lopez, Amy Rodriguez and Megan Rapinoe. However, in 2006, FIFA increased the age limit of the FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship to 20. 2004 also saw the first loss to a similar-aged team in the history of the program when the squad lost to Japan.

2005 and 2006

As the United States Soccer Federation did in 2001 prior to the introduction of the U-19 tournament, they raised the age of the squad from U-19 to U-20 in 2005. The move was, again, in response to FIFA's altering of the competition from U-19 to U-20. The actual team's play in 2005 was quiet due to a transition in coaches.

In 2006, the United States U-20 team played in a whopping 50 matches prior to the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship in Russia; however, the team finished in fourth place. The U.S. lost to China in penalties in the semifinal and followed up the loss with another to Brazil in the third-place match, also on penalties.[4] Seven members of that 2006 team: Lauren Cheney, Christina DiMartino, Tobin Heath, Stephanie Lopez, Casey Nogueira, Kelley O'Hara and Amy Rodriguez, have made appearances for the senior national team. Lopez played in the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup, and, joined by Cheney, Heath and Rodriguez, also represented the United States at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Nogueira and O'Hara helped the 2008 U-20 team to qualify for the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup that same year.

2007 and 2008

2007 saw the squad sent to the 2007 Pan American Games, just as they had done prior in the 1999 Pan American Games. This time around, the United States sent along two "over-aged players" in Lauren Cheney and Brittany Taylor. The decision proved costly as the supplemented U-20 team were dismantled in the finals, 5–0, to a full-strength Brazil squad.[5]

In 2008, two years removed from the disastrous fourth-place finish at the 2006 U-20 World Championship, the United States U-20 women finally reclaimed the World Cup title at the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Chile, with Sydney Leroux winning the Golden Ball and Golden Shoe for being named the best player of the tournament as well as scoring the most goals. Alex Morgan earned the Silver Shoe as the tournament's second-highest scorer and the Silver Ball as the tournament's second-best player behind teammate Leroux.[6] To date, Alex Morgan, Sydney Leroux, Christine Nairn, Alyssa Naeher, and Meghan Klingenberg are the only members of the 2008 squad to be capped by the senior national team.

2009 and 2010

In 2009, Tony DiCicco handed the coaching reins back to Jill Ellis, who had coached the 2007 Pan American Games squad. 2009 also saw the influx of players who took part in the inaugural FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup into the U-20s, including Kristen Mewis, US Soccer's 2008 Young Female Player of the Year, and Vicki DiMartino, younger sister of U-20 alumni Christina (2006) and Gina (2007–2008). Two members of the 2008 squad, Sydney Leroux and Christine Nairn, returned to captain the team through the next World Cup cycle.

The team won the 2010 CONCACAF Under-20 Women's Championship title the next year and secured a berth to the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, to be held in Germany. Sydney Leroux was the leading scorer at the tournament with six goals.[7] In the World Cup, they won their group, but lost on penalty kicks to Nigeria in the quarterfinals. Leroux was again their leading scorer, tallying five goals in their four matches.

2011 and 2012

In 2011, Steve Swanson was named coach of the squad for the second time, after having coached in 2000. To prepare for the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Japan, the team played 8 friendlies (winning seven) and qualifying with ease for the World Cup, scoring 24 goals in the qualifying tournament, while conceding only once.

In the World Cup, the squad was led by a Maya Hayes hat trick en route to beating Ghana 4–0. After a 1–1 draw against China, and a 3–0 loss to Germany, the US qualified for the quarterfinals over China on goal differential. In the quarterfinals, Chioma Ubogagu scored in extra time in a 2–1 victory over North Korea. In the semifinal, Morgan Brian and Kealia Ohai scored in a 2–0 win over Nigeria. The final was a rematch with Germany. Ohai scored right before halftime, and the US held on for a 1–0 win and their third World Cup championship.

2013 and 2014

Following the 2012 World Cup win, Michelle French took over the U-20 program. Defenders Cari Roccaro and Stephanie Amack returned from the 2012 World Cup winning side to lead the team along with Paris Saint-Germain target woman Lindsey Horan, the first American woman to skip college and turn professional, and Andi Sullivan, who was named co-captain despite being the youngest player on the squad during qualifiers. The US team again coasted through the CONCACAF qualifying tournament, winning all 5 matches without even conceding a single goal. However, the World Cup would offer much greater resistance as they started out in the Group of Death with international powerhouses Germany, Brazil, and China.

The World Cup tournament would feature a large sense of deja vu from two years prior, with the Americans grouped with China and Germany again. The US opened in a rematch of the previous final against Germany, this time coming up short, losing 2–0. But in a similar manner that they had in the previous World Cup, they survived the group stage with wins against Brazil and China behind strong performances by Lindsey Horan and central midfielder Rose Lavelle. The second-place finish in their group would match them for the second tournament in a row against North Korea and as they had two years before, the match went into extra time. Unfortunately for the Americans, this time the winning magic was not to be found as the game went into a shootout from the penalty spot and the Korean keeper dominated. Savannah Jordan, Lindsey Horan, and Rose Lavelle were all denied by Korean keeper Kim on weak efforts from the spot and the Americans exited the tournament earlier than expected.

2016–present

In 2016, the team participated in the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, and made it to the semifinals, where they lost to North Korea again in extra time.[8] They then lost to Japan in the third-place match.[9]

In February 2017, US Soccer reassigned Michelle French to be a full-time assistant coach for the senior women's national team,[10] with Jitka Klimková replacing her as head coach in April 2017.[11] Jitka Klimkova replaced Michelle French as the new coach of the under-20 team.[12]

The team finished runners-up in the 2018 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship. In the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, the team failed to progress from the group stage for the first time in history. Mark Carr took over the team from Jitka Klimkova in 2019 and prepared them for the upcoming competition year.

In January 2020, Laura Harvey was named the head coach[13] and lead the team to a 4–1 victory over Mexico in the 2020 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship Championship game[14] and qualifying the team for the 2020 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.[15] In November 2020, FIFA announced that the 2020 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup would be cancelled due to COVID-19.[16]

After an extended period off due to COVID restrictions, Tracey Kevins was named the head coach of the women's U-20 team.[17] The U-20 team returned to international soccer with a roar winning the 2022 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship and qualifying for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.[18] Performance in the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup was similar to what the team had experienced in 2018, with the team unable to get out of the group stage.[19]

Competitive record

FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup

Year Result Matches Wins Draws Losses GF GA Coach Squad
Canada 2002Champions6600262Tracey LeoneSquad
Thailand 2004Third place6501144Mark KrikorianSquad
Russia 2006Fourth place6420113Tim SchulzSquad
Chile 2008Champions6501123Tony DiCiccoSquad
Germany 2010Quarter-finals422082Jill EllisSquad
Japan 2012Champions6411105Steve SwansonSquad
Canada 2014Quarter-finals421153Michelle FrenchSquad
Papua New Guinea 2016Fourth place622276Michelle FrenchSquad
France 2018Group stage311183Jitka KlimkovaSquad
Costa Rica 2022Group stage310246Tracey KevinsSquad
Colombia 2024Qualified000000Tracey KevinsSquad
Total11/1150329910537
After the award ceremony at the 2012 FIFA Under-20 Women'S World Cup in Japan

CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship tournament record

The U-20 women have won the CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship six times, in 2006, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2020;[20] the 2002 tournament did not have a championship final.[21] The U-20s finished as runners-up to Canada in 2004 and 2008 and to Mexico in 2018.

Year Result Matches Wins Draws Losses GF GA Coach Squad
Trinidad and Tobago 2002No final held3300341Tracey LeoneSquad
Canada 2004Runners-up5311323Mark KrikorianSquad
Mexico 2006Champions5500193Tim SchulzSquad
Mexico 2008Runners-up5401201Tony DiCiccoSquad
Guatemala 2010Champions5500152Jill EllisSquad
Panama 2012Champions4400241Steve SwansonSquad
Cayman Islands 2014Champions5500290Michelle FrenchSquad
Honduras 2015Champions5410223Michelle FrenchSquad
Trinidad and Tobago 2018Runners-up532084Jitka KlimkováSquad
Dominican Republic 2020Champions7700441Laura HarveySquad
Dominican Republic 2022Champions7700490Tracey KevinsSquad
Dominican Republic 2023Runners-up5401185Tracey KevinsSquad
Total12/1261544331424

Pan American Games

The under-18 team participated and won the inaugural soccer tournament in the 1999 Pan American Games,[22] while the under-20 team lost in the final of the 2007 Pan American Games,[23] competing against full national teams. These opportunities are a consequence of holding the FIFA Women's World Cup in the same year as the Pan American Games.

Year Result Matches Wins Draws Losses GF GA Coach
Canada 1999Champions6510222Jay Hoffman
Dominican Republic 2003
No United States team participated
Brazil 2007Runners-up64021711Jill Ellis
Mexico 2011
No United States team participated
Canada 2015
Peru 2019
Chile 2023
Total3/7129133913

Fixtures and results

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Legend   Win   Draw   Lose   Fixture

2023

May 26, 2023 (2023-05-26) 2023 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship United States  6–0  Panama Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
6:00 PM (CDT)
  • Dudley 1'
  • Sentnor 41' (pen.), 49' (pen.)
  • Rader 45'
  • Martinho 64'
  • Lemos 71' (pen.)
Report Stadium: Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium
Referee: Katia García (Mexico)
May 28, 2023 (2023-05-28) 2023 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship Jamaica  0–4  United States Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
5:00 PM (CDT) Report
  • Dahlien 11', 47', 79'
  • Dellarose 49'
Stadium: Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium
Referee: Astrid Gramajo (Guatemala)
May 30, 2023 (2023-05-30) 2023 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship United States  5–2  Canada Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
5:00 PM (CDT)
  • Dahlien 3'
  • Sentnor 11', 55'
  • Thompson 45+3' (pen.)
  • Gamero 61'
Report
Stadium: Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium
Referee: Katia García (Mexico)
June 2, 2023 (2023-06-02) 2023 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship SF United States  2–1  Costa Rica Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
  • Aikey 39'
  • Martinho 49'
Report
Stadium: Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium
Referee: Sandra Benítez (El Salvador)
June 4, 2023 (2023-06-04) 2023 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship F Mexico  2–1  United States Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
  • Orozco 71'
  • Servín 88'
Report
  • Gamero 80'
Stadium: Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium
Referee: Marianela Araya (Costa Rica)

Players

Current squad

The following 21 players were named to the squad for the 2023 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship.[24]

Caps and goals are updated as of June 2, 2023 after the match against Costa Rica.[25]

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Teagan Wy (2004-07-30) July 30, 2004 4 0 United States California
12 1GK Valentina Amaral (2005-04-05) April 5, 2005 1 0 United States Florida Kraze Krush SC
21 1GK Mackenzie Gress (2005-10-03) October 3, 2005 0 0 United States Penn State

2 2DF Gisele Thompson (2005-12-02) December 2, 2005 4 1 United States Total Futbol Academy
3 2DF Savannah King (2005-02-07) February 7, 2005 5 0 United States Slammers FC HB Køge (ECNL)
4 2DF Ella Emri (2005-12-15) December 15, 2005 3 0 United States San Diego Surf SC
5 2DF Elise Evans (2005-11-28) November 28, 2005 5 0 United States Stanford
13 2DF Tessa Dellarose (2006-04-25) April 25, 2006 5 1 United States North Carolina
14 2DF Leah Klenke (2005-06-21) June 21, 2005 5 0 United States University of Notre Dame

6 3MF Ally Lemos (2004-03-04) March 4, 2004 5 1 United States UCLA
8 3MF Lauren Martinho (2005-10-09) October 9, 2005 4 2 United States North Carolina Courage Academy
10 3MF Shae Harvey (2004-11-28) November 28, 2004 3 0 United States Slammers FC HB Køge (ECNL)
16 3MF Jill Flammia (2005-06-29) June 29, 2005 3 0 United States Virginia
18 3MF Jasmine Aikey (2003-11-28) November 28, 2003 5 1 United States Stanford
20 3MF Sofia Cook (2003-11-30) November 30, 2003 3 0 United States UCLA

7 4FW Jordynn Dudley (2005-12-31) December 31, 2005 3 1 United States United Futbol Academy
9 4FW Ally Sentnor (2004-02-18) February 18, 2004 10 5 United States North Carolina
11 4FW Kat Rader (2004-06-30) June 30, 2004 3 1 United States Duke
15 4FW Maggie Cagle (2006-06-06) June 6, 2006 3 0 United States Virginia
17 4FW Onyeka Gamero (2006-02-23) February 23, 2006 5 1 United States Beach FC (CA)
19 4FW Madeline Dahlien (2006-11-28) November 28, 2006 4 4 United States North Carolina

Recent call-ups

The following players were named to a squad in the last 12 months.


Player records

International match statistics, as of August 12, 2014. All goals scored in international matches only.

Top scorers

Rank Player Goals Years
1 Kelly Schmedes 31 2001–2002
2 Lindsey Horan 24 2011–2014
2 Sydney Leroux 24 2008–2010
2 Kelley O'Hara 24 2006–2008
2 Lindsay Tarpley 24 2001–2002
6 Kerri Hanks 22 2002–2004
7 Heather O'Reilly 18 2001–2002
8 Maya Hayes 16 2010–2012
9 Lauren Cheney 15 2006–2007
10 Amy Rodriguez 11 2004–2006

Most capped players

Rank Player Caps Years
1 Maya Hayes 43 2010–2012
2 Crystal Dunn 39 2010–2012
2 Ashlyn Harris 39 2002–2004
2 Sydney Leroux 39 2008–2010
5 Samantha Mewis 38 2010–2012
6 Kelley O'Hara 35 2006–2008
7 Cari Roccaro 34 2011–2014
8 Kerri Hanks 30 2002–2004
9 Christine Nairn 28 2008–2010
10 Lindsey Horan 26 2011–2014
10 Teresa Noyola 26 2007–2010
10 Lindsay Tarpley 26 2001–2002
Players still eligible for the U-20 player pool in bold.

Coaches

References

  1. 2009 WNT U.S. Soccer Media Guide
  2. U.S. Under-18 Women Defeat Mexico 1–0, Take Home Inaugural Pan Am Championship Archived May 31, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, US Soccer, August 5, 1999.
  3. U.S. Women Fall to Germany, 3–1, at U-19 World Championship Archived June 10, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, US Soccer, November 24, 2004.
  4. USA Falls to Brazil in Penalties to Finish Fourth at U-20 Women's World Championship Archived June 10, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, US Soccer, September 3, 2006.
  5. U-20 WNT Fall in Pan-Am Final to Full Brazilian National Team Archived June 10, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, US Soccer, July 26, 2007.
  6. Morgan and Leroux, blazing a trail, FIFA.com, December 8, 2008.
  7. U.S. U-20 WNT Claim CONCACAF Crown with 1–0 Defeat of Mexico Archived March 12, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, US Soccer, January 30, 2010.
  8. "Korea DPR into final as USA sunk in extra time". FIFA.com. November 29, 2016. Archived from the original on November 29, 2016. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  9. "Ueno ensures dominant Japan earn third". FIFA.com. December 3, 2016. Archived from the original on December 4, 2016. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  10. "Michelle French, B.J. Snow Join Senior WNT Staff". www.ussoccer.com. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  11. "Jitka Klimkova, Mark Carr named head coaches of U.S. U-20, U-17 WNTs". SoccerWire. April 7, 2017. Archived from the original on September 14, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  12. "Jitka Klimkova, Mark Carr named head coaches of U.S. U-20, U-17 WNTs". www.SoccerWire.com. Soccer Wire. April 7, 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  13. "LAURA HARVEY HIRED AS NEW HEAD COACH OF U-20 USWNT". www.USSoccer.com. United States Soccer Federation. January 3, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  14. "USA ROLLS PAST MEXICO 4-1 TO WIN 2020 CONCACAF WOMEN'S U-20 CHAMPIONSHIP". www.USSoccer.com. United States Soccer Federation. March 8, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  15. "USA and Mexico seal FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup berths". www.FIFA.com. FIFA. March 6, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  16. "Update on FIFA Club World Cup 2020 and women's youth tournaments". www.FIFA.com. FIFA. November 17, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  17. "TRACEY KEVINS NAMED HEAD COACH OF U.S. UNDER-20 WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM; GONZALO SEGARES NAMED HEAD COACH OF U.S. UNDER-17 MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM". www.USSoccer.com. United States Soccer Federation. October 18, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  18. "USA WINS CONCACAF WOMEN'S U-20 CHAMPIONSHIP WITH 2-0 VICTORY OVER MEXICO". www.USSoccer.com. United States Soccer Federation. March 12, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  19. "USA BOWS OUT OF FIFA U-20 WOMEN'S WORLD CUP WITH 3-1 LOSS TO JAPAN". www.USSoccer.com. United States Soccer Federation. August 17, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  20. "USA Earns Fourth CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship Crown with 4–0 Victory Against Mexico". Archived from the original on March 26, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  21. CONCACAF Qualifying Set for U-20 WWC in Germany and U-17 WWC in Trinidad & Tobago Archived December 2, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, US Soccer, November 30, 2009.
  22. "U.S. Under-18 Women Defeat Mexico 1–0, Take Home Inaugural Pan Am Championship". U.S.Soccer. August 5, 1999. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  23. "U-20 WNT Fall in Pan-Am Final to Full Brazilian National Team". U.S.Soccer. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  24. "Kevins Names USA Roster For 2023 Concacaf Women's Under-20 Championship In The Dominican Republic". USSF. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  25. "U.S. U-20 WOMEN'S YOUTH NATIONAL TEAM QUALIFIES FOR 2024 FIFA U-20 WOMEN'S WORLD CUP WITH 2-1 WIN AGAINST COSTA RICA IN CONCACAF U-20 WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP SEMIFINAL". www.USSoccer.com. United States Soccer Federation. June 2, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  26. "Jitka Klimkova, Mark Carr named head coaches of U.S. U-20, U-17 WNTs". Soccer Wire. April 7, 2017. Archived from the original on September 14, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  27. "University of Oklahoma hires Mark Carr as head soccer coach". Soccer Wire. December 23, 2019. Archived from the original on July 26, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  28. "Laura Harvey Hired as New Head Coach of U-20 USWNT". United States Soccer Federation. January 3, 2020. Archived from the original on July 26, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  29. "Laura Harvey Hired as Head Coach for OL Reign". United States Soccer Federation. July 15, 2021. Archived from the original on July 26, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  30. "Tracey Kevins Named Head Coach of U.S. Under-20 Women's National Team; Gonzalo Segares Named Head Coach of U.S. Under-17 Men's National Team". United States Soccer Federation. October 18, 2021. Archived from the original on October 20, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
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