The United States U-20 men's national soccer team is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation. The highest level of competition in which the team competes is the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is held every two years.
The United States' best finish came in the 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship, when the U.S. beat Iraq in the quarterfinal before losing to Nigeria in overtime in the semifinal and Brazil in the third-place match. Steve Snow tied for second in the tournament with three goals.
The U.S. reached the quarterfinals in 1993 but lost to Brazil. After missing out in 1995, the U.S. began a run of six consecutive qualifications in 1997, reaching the second round in five consecutive tournaments. Of those tournaments, the best U.S. performance came in 2003, when the U.S. reached the quarterfinal and led Argentina 1–0 in the final minutes before falling 2–1 in extra time. The U.S. also reached the quarterfinal of the 2007 Cup before losing 2–1 in extra time to Austria.
Competitive record Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place
FIFA U-20 World Cup FIFA U-20 World CupYearResultSquad 1977Did not qualify 1979 1981Group stage15th301218Squad 198311th310235Squad 1985Did not qualify 1987Group stage10th310223Squad 1989Fourth place4th621379Squad 1991Did not qualify 1993Quarterfinals8th411286Squad 1995Did not qualify 1997Round of 1615th410326Squad 199911th420277Squad 200113th411255Squad 2003Quarterfinals5th530296Squad 2005Round of 1611th421133Squad 2007Quarterfinals7th5311126Squad 2009Group stage18th310247Squad 2011Did not qualify 2013Group stage22nd301239Squad 2015Quarterfinals7th531174Squad 20176th5221126Squad 20196th530286Squad 2021Cancelled 2023Quarterfinals5th5401102Squad 2025Quarterfinals5th5302176Squad 2027Qualified 2029To be determinedTotal18/2776331033120104
Pan American Games Pan American GamesYearResultSquad1951–1983See United States men's national soccer team 1987Group stage311133— 1991Gold medal1st5500104— 1995Group stage300309—1999–2003See United States men's national under-23 soccer team2007See United States men's national under-18 soccer teamSince 2011See United States men's national under-23 soccer teamTotal1 Title116141316—
CONCACAF Under-20 Championship CONCACAF Under-20 ChampionshipYearResultSquad 1962did not enter 1964Group stage402248— 1970did not enter 1973 1974Playoff round422053— 1976Third place3rd75021910— 1978Second round521274— 1980Runners-up2nd7511154— 1982Runners-up2nd7421145— 1984Fourth place4th8323118— 1986Runners-up2nd7322103— 1988Third place3rd7403119— 1990Third place3rd5302105— 1992Runners-up2nd6501154— 1994Group stage5th320194— 1996Third place3rd521275— 19981st, Group B3210123— 20012nd, Group A3210112— 20032nd, Group B320153— 20051st, Group A3300101Squad 20071st, Group A321091Squad 2009Runners-up2nd522153Squad 2011Quarterfinal5th320172Squad 2013Runners-up2nd5401106Squad 2015Third place3rd6411142Squad 2017Champions1st6411114Squad 2018Champions1st8800462Squad 2020Cancelled 2022Champions1st7610312Squad 2024Runners-up2nd6501183Squad 2026Runners-up2nd6501163SquadTotal3 Titles142912130342109—
Honors FIFA U-20 World Cup Fourth Place (1): 1989 CONCACAF U-20 Championship Winners (3): 2017, 2018, 2022 Runners-up (7): 1980, 1982, 1986, 1992, 2009, 2013, 2024
Recent results and fixtures The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
2025
2026
Players
Current squad The following 20 players were named to the squad for the 2026 CONCACAF U-20 Championship.
Caps and goals are updated as of August 9, 2026 after the match against Mexico.
Recent call-ups The following players have been called up for the team in the past 12 months.
2026 CONCACAF U-20 Championship. June 2026 friendlies. March 2026 friendlies. January 2026 training camp. November 2025 friendlies. 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
ALT-Alternate INJ-Injury PRE-Withdrawn prior to competition
Top goalscorers
Rank Player Year(s) U-20 Goals1Brek Shea2007–2009172Freddy Adu2003–2009163Romain Gall2014–201513Scott E. Kennedy1992–1993135Eddie Johnson2003–200412Jacob Peterson2004–2005127Jeremy Ebobisse2016–2017118Will John200510Niko Tsakiris2022–present109Chad Barrett2004–20059
Coaches Name YearsAngus McAlpine1983Derek Armstrong 1987Bob Gansler1989Bobby Howe1993Jay Hoffman 1997Sigi Schmid1998–1999Wolfgang Sühnholz 1999–2001Thomas Rongen 2002–2004Sigi Schmid 2005Thomas Rongen 2006–2011Tab Ramos 2011–2019Anthony Hudson 2020–2021Mikey Varas2021–2023Michael Nsien2024Marko Mitrović2024–2025Rob Valentino2026
Head-to-head record The following table shows United States' head-to-head record in the FIFA U-20 World Cup. OpponentWin %Total
See also United States men's national soccer team United States men's national under-17 soccer team United States men's national under-18 soccer team United States men's national under-19 soccer team United States men's national under-23 soccer team
References
External links
United States U-20 at ESPN