US U20 MNT started their World Cup run over the weekend with a 1-0 victory over Ecuador, which was a good result, especially given the WC is being played in Argentina.

That was supposed to be the most difficult match of the group stage for US, so they are off to a good start.

The U.S. continues Group B play against Fiji on Tuesday, May 23 (1 p.m., FS2) and closes the group stage vs. Slovakia on Friday, May 26 (1 p.m.; FS2). All three matches will be played at Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario in San Juan, located in western Argentina near the foothills of the Andes.

2023 FIFA U-20 WORLD CUP ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB; HOMETOWN; U-20 CAPS/GOALS)
GOALKEEPERS (3): 21-Alexander Borto (Fulham/ENG; South Plainfield, N.J.; 2/0), 12-Antonio Carrera (FC Dallas; Frisco, Texas; 4/0), 1-Gaga Slonina (Chelsea/ENG; Addison, Ill.; 5/0)

DEFENDERS (7): 17-Justin Che (Hoffenheim/GER; Dallas, Texas; 6/0), 5-Brandan Craig (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.; 10/1), 14-Marcus Ferkranus (LA Galaxy; Santa Clarita, Calif.; 11/0), 13-Jonathan Gomez (Real Sociedad/ESP; Keller, Texas; 6/0), 2-Michael Halliday (Orlando City SC; Apopka, Fla.; 8/0), 3-Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United FC; Atlanta, Ga.; 5/0), 4-Joshua Wynder (Louisville City FC; Louisville, Ky.; 2/0)

MIDFIELDERS (7): 6-Daniel Edelman (New York Red Bulls; Warren, N.J.; 10/0), 10-Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake; Sunnyvale, Calif.; 16/4), 8-Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union; Middle Village, N.Y.; 16/2), 20-Rokas Pukstas (Hajduk Split/CRO; Stillwater, Okla.; 12/1), 15-Niko Tsakiris (San Jose Earthquakes; Saratoga, Calif.; 5/3), 18-Obed Vargas (Seattle Sounders FC; Anchorage, Alaska; 4/0), 16-Owen Wolff (Austin FC; Austin, Texas; 3/1)

FORWARDS (4): 9-Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes; Ceres, Calif.; 7/2), 11-Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg/GER; South Riding, Va.; 6/2), 7-Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.; 15/7), 19-Darren Yapi (Colorado Rapids; Denver, Colo.; 3/0)

GROUPS
Group A
Argentina
New Zealand
Uzbekistan
Guatemala

Group B
Slovakia
United States
Ecuador
Fiji

Group C
Colombia
Japan
Israel
Senegal

Group D
Italy
Nigeria
Brazil
Dominican Republic

Group E
Uruguay
Iraq
England
Tunisia

Group F
France
South Korea
Gambia
Honduras

Top 2 teams from each group (6 groups so 12 teams) and 4 top 3rd place teams advance to the round of 16. If US can win group they would get a 3rd place team in the Round of 16 so winning group would be a huge boost.

All games are on the Fox Sports networks, with US matches in group stage on FS2.

Neither Paredes nor Pukstas will be able to join the team until after group stage due to their clubs not releasing them.

Thanks for starting this. I attempted to start it, but then gave up.

Anyone having issues getting all the matches to record on Youtube TV?

It's making me record them individually.

Great start with the stoppage time goal against Ecuador.

The timing of this World Cup is interesting to me. Why not wait a couple weeks until season's end to start tournament?

Aston94 said:

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The timing of this World Cup is interesting to me. Why not wait a couple weeks until season's end to start tournament?

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Exactly. Is Aaronson hurt or was he just not released?

Edit: Not released.

Looks like quite a few of the starts from the Concacaf qualifying weren't released.

Dre_00 said:

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Aston94 said:

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The timing of this World Cup is interesting to me. Why not wait a couple weeks until season's end to start tournament?

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Yeah, timing and World Cups is not a big concern over at FIFA HQ.

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Well, it is if you're timing when that deposit hits the Swiss bank account. IYKWIM

Dre_00 said:

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Aston94 said:

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The timing of this World Cup is interesting to me. Why not wait a couple weeks until season's end to start tournament?

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Yeah, timing and World Cups is not a big concern over at FIFA HQ.

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USA dominates the first half everywhere but putting the ball in the net. 0-0 at halftime.

Dre_00 said:

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Aston94 said:

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The timing of this World Cup is interesting to me. Why not wait a couple weeks until season's end to start tournament?

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Yeah, timing and World Cups is not a big concern over at FIFA HQ.

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I lol'ed

But seriously though, the world largely doesn't care about youth world cups. Which is why there are a whole lot of countries in the event that won't sniff senior World Cups and a whole lot of big countries not present.

I liked hearing from Matt Crocker about participation in these events. He says it's usually far better for a young player's development to remain at their club rather than participate in these events. I hope we change the culture. These events should be about cap tying and showcasing the skills of players who aren't get utilized by their clubs so they get an offer from a better club. That might be all they're good for.

Fiji commits a foul in the penalty area and the entire Fiji team stops. Referee plays advantage and/or no call and Luna hits a nice shot bending into the right lower 90. 1 nil USA.

This team is athletic and struggle in the finishing. I'm guess if they were better they wouldn't have been releasable.

Cowell with a very nice goal. 2 nil.

Luna with a goal and an assist.

He looks like a graffitied fireplug, but the kid can play.

Cowell has hit the cross bar, the right post, just needs the left for a posttrick.

Final 3 nil. Fijians played their asses off.

Watched most of 2nd half and it was pretty much Fiji sitting in 2 rows of 5 defenders, trying to limit the damage. 3-0 win is a good win, and we are well on our way to the knockout stages.

Chuck Cunningham said:

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This team is athletic and struggle in the finishing. I'm guess if they were better they wouldn't have been releasable.

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It's a fairly rotated squad so probably factored into the struggles.

Chuck Cunningham said:

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This team is athletic and struggle in the finishing. I'm guess if they were better they wouldn't have been releasable.

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You would be wrong

deadbq03 said:

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I liked hearing from Matt Crocker about participation in these events. He says it's usually far better for a young player's development to remain at their club rather than participate in these events. I hope we change the culture. These events should be about cap tying and showcasing the skills of players who aren't get utilized by their clubs so they get an offer from a better club. That might be all they're good for.

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Ok the flip side, youth tourneys are a one of the best ways for young players who may have gone unnoticed to get scouted and signed to good clubs where they can continue to develop. Also gives our NT coaches a chance to start building a core group of players.

Youth WCs aren't the most important thing, but they're also not unimportant.

Edit to add that yes, I basically just repeated your last point. Sorry about that.

PatAg said:

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Chuck Cunningham said:

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This team is athletic and struggle in the finishing. I'm guess if they were better they wouldn't have been releasable.

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You would be wrong

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I'lll give you one of the three, but not all three. 2 of those three goals were very nice.

Win or draw today against Slovakia wins the group. Would be great to be matched up against 3rd place team from Group A.

Rudyjax said:

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PatAg said:

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Chuck Cunningham said:

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This team is athletic and struggle in the finishing. I'm guess if they were better they wouldn't have been releasable.

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You would be wrong

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I'lll give you one of the three, but not all three. 2 of those three goals were very nice.

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Rudyjax making a cameo?

He just rotated his nom de plume.

Going with 3-4-3 formation with Luna, Wiley and Cowell up top. Edelman and Vargas are dual 6's with Che and Wolff as 8's and Craig, Wynder and Halliday in the back. Slolina is between the sticks.

akm91 said:

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Going with 3-4-3 formation with Luna, Wiley and Cowell up top. Edelman and Vargas are dual 6's with Che and Wolff as 8's and Craig, Wynder and Halliday in the back. Slolina is between the sticks.

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Why thumbs down?

akm91 said:

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Going with 3-4-3 formation with Luna, Wiley and Cowell up top. Edelman and Vargas are dual 6's with Che and Wolff as 8's and Craig, Wynder and Halliday in the back. Slolina is between the sticks.

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Looks more like a 3-3-4 than a 3-4-3.

Butterfingered. Should've been thumbs up.

Up 1-0 at HT. Cowell with a deflection for a goal.

Cowell's goal was a beautiful run, beat three defenders and defender got a toe on the shot. Hard to tell from the replays if it made a big impact on the keeper's ability to stop shot, but was a great run.

Slonina made one big time save for US, otherwise, US dominated first half.

Aston94 said:

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Rudyjax said:

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PatAg said:

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Chuck Cunningham said:

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This team is athletic and struggle in the finishing. I'm guess if they were better they wouldn't have been releasable.

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You would be wrong

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I'lll give you one of the three, but not all three. 2 of those three goals were very nice.

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Rudyjax making a cameo?

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For at least 6 months.

jeffk said:

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He just rotated his nom de plume.

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I really didn't like Chuck Cunningham as a poster.

Rudyjax said:

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jeffk said:

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He just rotated his nom de plume.

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I really didn't like Chuck Cunningham as a poster.

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Me either!

Were you also a three-legged dog in a previous life? I need to update my spreadsheet.

Group Winners

Definitely changed the direction of the shot but still a great effort by Cowell. Second goal was really well worked off a turnover deep in Slovakia end.

US wins the group woth 2-0 victory over Slovakia. Hope they get the 3rd place team from Group A. Avoid Group D if at all possible