LEON, Guanajuato – The United States, Panama, Mexico, and Cuba play the 2024 Concacaf Men's U-20 Championship semifinals on Friday at the Leon Stadium in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico.
All four nations clinched a berth in the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup by winning their quarterfinal bouts. The United States will continue its defense against Panama for one spot in the final while hosts Mexico and Cuba duke it out for the other spot.
United States vs. Panama
The United States and Panama will face off for the first time in the semifinals of the Concacaf Men's Under-20 Championship.
The encounter will mark the sixth all-time meeting between the nations in the tournament. The U.S., champions in the previous three editions, leads the series with three wins and two losses.
The U.S. won Group A with three consecutive victories and defeated Guatemala 1-0 in the quarterfinals. The team boasts the best defense, with zero goals conceded. Ten different scorers have contributed to the 14 USA goals, with Pedro Soma, David Vazquez, Ruben Ramos, Niko Tsakiris, and Marcos Zambrano co-leading with two apiece.
Panama finished second in Group C with two wins and one draw. Los Canaleros defeated Canada 2-1, after extra time, to reach the semifinals. Gustavo Herrera leads the nation with four goals to co-lead the top scorer race.
Mexico vs. Cuba
Mexico and Cuba meet for the 11th time in the Concacaf Men's Under-20 Championship.
Mexico has never lost to Cuba, with 8 wins and 2 draws.
The hosts of the current edition finished first in Group C with two wins and one draw and defeated Costa Rica 2-1 in the quarterfinals. Diego Sánchez scored one of the goals of the tournament to spur the comeback effort before Amaury Morales scored the match-winning goal to seal the win that marked Mexico’s return to the U-20 World Cup.
Cuba went 1-1-1 in a Group A that included the United States and Costa Rica, qualifying for the knockout stage as one of the best-ranked third-place teams. Cuba outlasted Honduras, winning 5-3 on PKs, to seal the final ticket to the semifinals. Samuel Rodríguez leads the current group with two goals.
