Miami - Two out of the four Concacaf teams will be in action on Saturday at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina, with the United States facing Ecuador and Guatemala taking on New Zealand.
The U20 World Cup is familiar territory for the U.S. The champions of the 2022 Concacaf Men’s Under-20 Championship will be making their 17th appearance in a U20 World Cup and have reached the quarterfinal stage of the last three editions (2015, 2017, 2019).
Despite the absence of 2022 CMU20 Best Player and Top Scorer Paxten Aaronson, the U.S. still boast a very powerful squad, including Quinn Sullivan, who had six goals in the CMU20, and Austin FC winger Owen Wolff, who already has a goal and three assists in the 2023 MLS season.
The U.S. are in Group B with Fiji, Slovakia and familiar foe Ecuador, who eliminated the U.S. in the quarterfinals at Poland 2019.
𝗨.𝗦. against the world 🌎💪
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) May 10, 2023
Head coach Mikey Varas has called up 21 players to represent the 🇺🇸 at the U-20 @FIFAWorldCup in Argentina! ≫ https://t.co/3ZgQoIB5aW pic.twitter.com/vQsmiJZuwd
2022 CMU20 runners-up Dominican Republic are not only making their debut at the U20 World Cup, but it is the first World Cup at any age level for the Caribbean nation.
Dominican Republic’s journey to Argentina 2023 started in CMU20 Qualifying when they scored two goals in the final five minutes against Saint Lucia to qualify for the main tournament. They then took full advantage by making a run to the Final to clinch not only a U20 World Cup berth, but a place in the 2024 Paris Olympics as well.
MF Edison Azcona of MLS franchise Inter Miami will be one of the leaders of the Dominican Republic team, as will Angel Montes de Oca, who scored three goals for his side at the CMU20.
Dominican Republic will embark on their first World Cup voyage in Group D versus five-time U20 World Cup champions Brazil, Italy and Nigeria.
Honduras are in their fourth straight U20 World Cup and ninth overall with the objective of trying to reach the knockout stage for the first time ever.
One of the best young goalscorers in the Concacaf region, Marco Aceituno, leads the attacking line for the Catrachos. The Real Espana man scored six goals in the 2022 CMU20 and will be helped by talented MF David Ruiz, who has played in five matches this season with Inter Miami.
Honduras will take on France, South Korea and Gambia in Group F. Honduras’ lone U20 World Cup match versus France came in the 2017 edition in a 3-0 group stage win for the Europeans.
Guatemala will be making their second U20 World Cup appearance in Argentina and their first since the 2011 edition.
In attack, Guatemala can turn to talismanic striker Arquimides Ordonez of MLS franchise FC Cincinnati. Ordonez was superb at last summer’s CMU20 in scoring five goals. Guatemala will also feel confident about their situation in goal with Jorge Moreno, who saved penalties in back-to-back games against Canada and Mexico, and then saved another three penalties in the shootout win versus Mexico.
The Chapines will square off with host nation Argentina, Uzbekistan and New Zealand in Group A.
