HERRIMAN, Utah (Saturday, June 3, 2023) - The United States U-20 Men’s Youth National Team faces off against Uruguay in the Quarterfinals on Sunday, June 4 at 3:00 p.m. MT in Santiago del Estero, Argentina at the FIFA U-20 World Cup. The United States are looking to advance to the Semifinals for the first-time ever at the U-20 tournament.
The Stars-and-Stripes defeated New Zealand 4-0 this past Tuesday, extending their clean sheet streak to four matches. Standout Real Salt Lake midfielder **Diego Luna** featured in the starting XI and was instrumental in the win, assisting two goals and making a jaw-dropping run pivotal to the development of the third. Luna’s agility, pitch awareness and distribution took center stage, impressing the coaching staff and fans alike in 79 minutes before being subbed off with the victory secured. Through four matches at the tournament, Luna leads the team in assists with three, while also adding a goal of his own.
Luna is currently tied with six others with a tourney-high three assists. However, only four of the six remain on teams still competing in the Cup, providing a path for the dynamic Luna to potentially finish the tournament as the sole leader.
Prior to the dominant New Zealand win, the United States qualified for the knockout rounds as the Group B winner, nine of a possible nine points with wins over Slovakia, Fiji, and Ecuador by a combined score of 6-0.
Uruguay enters the match coming off a hard-fought 1-0 win over the Gambia in the Round of 16 on Thursday, reduced to 10 men as Luciano Rodríguez was sent off on a red card. ‘La Celeste’ finished second in Group E on six points, losing its only match to eventual group winners England.
The junior Uruguayos have been to two FIFA U-20 World Cup Finals, falling to neighbors Argentina in 1997 and France in 2013. Apart from the two Finals appearances, Uruguay has also finished third in 1979 and fourth in 1977, 1999, and 2017. The two countries faced off most recently at the 2007 World Cup, when the United States knocked off Uruguay in the Round of 16 by a score of 2-1, thanks to a Michael Bradley extra time goal in the 107th minute. Former Liverpool and Barcelona star Luis Suarez scored the lone goal for Uruguay.
The game will be available to watch on FS2 (see USSoccer.com for more details).
Should the U.S. advance Sunday, the Semifinals will be played on Thursday, June 8, against the winner of Israel and Brazil. The FIFA U-20 World Cup Final will be played on Sunday, June 11 at La Plata Stadium. The United States entered the tournament as favorites to get out of the group stage, failing to advance past the final eight 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.
