HERRIMAN, Utah (Friday, May 19, 2023) - The 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup is set to begin this weekend in Argentina, where Real Salt Lake Homegrown midfielder **Diego Luna** and the United States Youth National Team kick off their run for the title as Team USA faces 2019 third-place finisher Ecuador at 12:00 noon MT (Fox / Telemundo own U.S. broadcast rights; check local listings or www.USSoccer.com for streaming information) in the first of three group stage matches.
The U.S. will compete in Group B with Ecuador, Fiji and Slovakia. The group stage will consist of three matches played in round-robin fashion, with every team playing each other once. With six groups in the 24-team competition, the top two teams from each group in addition to the four best third-place teams will advance to the Round of 16. During the group stage, a win will be rewarded with three points, a draw worth one point, and no points will be given following a loss. After the group stage, the tournament will be played in a single-elimination format, starting with the Round of 16 until the Final.Â
U-20 United States Group B Schedule:
Saturday, May 20: U-20 U.S. MYNT vs Ecuador - 12 pm MT - Estadio San Juan Del Bicentenario, San Juan, Argentina
Tuesday, May 23: U-20 U.S. MYNT vs Fiji - 12 pm MT - Estadio San Juan Del Bicentenario, San Juan, Argentina
Friday, May 26: U-20 U.S. MYNT vs Slovakia - 12 pm MT - Estadio San Juan Del Bicentenario, San Juan, Argentina
The Round of 16 will take place from May 30-June 1 with the Quarterfinals on June 3-4, the Semifinals on June 8 and the Final on June 11 at La Plata Stadium. Host side Argentina, led by Head Coach and former Barcelona and national team legend Javier Mascherano, are looking to extend their record to seven U-20 World Cup titles.Â
RSL’s Very OwnÂ
Diego Luna featured extensively on the U-20 U.S. Youth National Team in the final tune-up camp in Marbella, Spain in March, while Luna was also on the U-20 roster for the team’s January camp earlier this year. Â
The U.S. finished 0-2-1 (W-L-T) in three matches, with the losses coming to fellow World Cup teams France (4-0) and England (4-2), as well as a goalless draw against the U-21 Serbian National Team.
Luna was named to the Starting XI in the France and Serbia matches, and appeared against England coming on as a substitute in the 70 minute. In total, Luna has appeared in 16 matches for the United States, scoring five goals in all competitions.
Luna played a critical role in helping the United States qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, contributing a tournament leading five assists at the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship, while also scoring a goal of his own.Â
Additionally, Luna is the 10th all-time Real Salt Lake player to represent the Claret-and-Cobalt at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, joining current teammate Justen Glad (2017), as well as past RSL players David Ochoa (2019), Danilo Acosta (2017), Sebastian Saucedo (2017), Brooks Lennon (2017), Jordan Allen (2015), Luis Gil (2013), Chris Seitz (2007) and Freddy Adu (2007).
RSL’s **Moses Nyeman** was also named to the squad, as one of three alternates traveling with the team to Argentina.
Expectations for the Stars and Stripes
The United States enter the tournament as favorites to get out of the group stage, having fallen in the quarterfinals in the last three U-20 World Cups. The U-20 U.S. MYNT won the 2022 CONCACAF Championship en route to qualification, defeating the Dominican Republic 6-0 in the final.Â
In the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland the United States finished second in Group D, one point behind eventual winners Ukraine. After an upset 3-2 victory over France in the Round of 16, the U.S. bowed out in the Quarterfinals against Ecuador 2-1.Â
The tournament’s Golden Boot award was given to current Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland, who scored nine goals in 270 minutes for Norway. Past Golden Ball (player of the tournament) winners at the U-20 FIFA World Cup include Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, Sergio Agüero and Paul Pogba. Kasey Keller, who won the Silver Ball at the 1989 U-20 FIFA World Cup, is the only U.S. player to be given an individual award at the tournament.
USYNT FIFA U-20 WORLD CUP ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB/COUNTRY; HOMETOWN)
GOALKEEPERS (3): Alexander Borto (Fulham/ENG; South Plainfield, N.J.), Antonio Carrera (FC Dallas; Frisco, Texas), Gaga Slonina (Chelsea/ENG; Addison, Ill.)
DEFENDERS (7): Justin Che (Hoffenheim/GER; Dallas, Texas), Brandan Craig (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.), Mauricio Cuevas (LA Galaxy; Los Angeles, Calif.), Marcus Ferkranus (LA Galaxy; Santa Clarita, Calif.), Jonathan Gomez (Real Sociedad/ESP; Keller, Texas), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United FC; Atlanta, Ga.), Joshua Wynder (Louisville City FC; Louisville, Ky.)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Daniel Edelman (New York Red Bulls; Warren, N.J.), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake; Sunnyvale, Calif.), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union; Middle Village, N.Y.), Rokas Pukstas (Hajduk Split/CRO; Stillwater, Okla.), Niko Tsakiris (San Jose Earthquakes; Saratoga, Calif.), Obed Vargas (Seattle Sounders FC; Anchorage, Alaska), Owen Wolff (Austin FC; Austin, Texas)
FORWARDS (4): Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes; Ceres, Calif.), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg/GER; South Riding, Va.), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.), Darren Yapi (Colorado Rapids; Denver, Colo.)
