Under-20 Men's World Cup: USA will face New Zealand in round of 16

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, May 29, 2023

The USA swept its group for the first time in 17 appearances at the U-20 world championship and is the only team to shut out all three group opponents. Host Argentina is the only other team to win all three games in the first round.

The USA has a potentially favorable path to the semifinals. It beat New Zealand 4-0 in 2015 in group when when New Zealand hosted the tournament, and it won 6-0 in the round of 16 in 2017. If the USA beats New Zealand, it will face the Gambia-Uruguay winner with two extra days of rest.

In 2015, 2017 and 2019, the U.S. U-20s lost in the quarterfinals. The only time they reached the final four was in 1989 when Bob Gansler's team finished fourth.

Schedule: Round of 16:
May 30
USA vs. New Zealand
Uzbekistan vs. Israel
May 31
Brazil vs. Tunisia
Colombia vs. Slovakia
England vs. Italy
Argentina vs. Nigeria
June 1
Gambia vs. Uruguay
Ecuador vs. South Korea

Standings: First Round
Group A Argentina 9 points; Uzbekistan 4 (5-4); *New Zealand 4 (3-7); Guatemala 0.
Group B USA 9 points; Ecuador 6; *Slovakia 3; Fiji 0.
Group C Colombia 7 points; Israel; 4; Japan 3; Senegal 2.
Group D Brazil 6 points (10-3); Italy 6 (6-4); *Nigeria 6 (4-3); Dominican Republic 0.
Group E England 7 points; Uruguay 6; *Tunisia 3; Iraq 1.
Group F Gambia 7 points; South Korea 5; France 3; Honduras 1.
*Qualified for round of 16 as one of the four best third-place teams.

Highlights: Matchday 3
Group A Uzbekistan 2-0 Guatemala // Argentina 5-0 New Zealand
Group B USA 2-0 Slovakia // Ecuador 9-0 Fiji // 
Group C Colombia 1-1 Senegal // Israel 2-1 Japan
Group D Brazil 2-0 Nigeria // Italy 3-0 Dominican Republic
Group E Iraq 0-0 England // Uruguay 1-0 Tunisia
Group F France 3-1 Honduras // South Korea 0-0 Gambia

Highlights: Matchday 2
Group A Uzbekistan 2-2 New Zealand // Argentina 3-0 Guatemala
Group B USA 3-0 Fiji // Ecuador 2-1 Slovakia
Group C Senegal 1-1 Israel // Colombia 2-1 Japan
Group D Nigeria 2-0 Italy // Brazil 6-0 Dominican Republic
Group E England 3-2 Uruguay // Tunisia 3-0 Iraq
Group F Gambia 2-1 France // South Korea 2-2 Honduras

Highlights: Matchday 1
Group A Argentina 2-1 Uzbekistan // New Zealand 1-0 Guatemala
Group B USA 1-0 Ecuador // Slovakia 4-0 Fiji
Group C Colombia 2-1 Israel // Japan 1-0 Senegal
Group D Italy 3-2 Brazil // Nigeria 2-1 Dominican Republic
Group E England 1-0 Tunisia // Uruguay 4-0 Iraq
Group F South Korea 2-1 France // Gambia 2-1 Honduras