The U.S. Under-20 men’s national team is set to take part in the most important Concacaf youth tournament ever staged, and the quest to add a third straight regional title kicks off on Saturday in Honduras.
The Concacaf Under-20 Championship is carrying more significance than normal in 2022, with the tournament also serving as the region’s Olympic qualifying competition. That will put additional pressure on the Americans to deliver in a tournament they have won the past two editions of.
Saturday’s opening match against Saint Kitts and Nevis is the first of three group-stage matches for the USMNT U-20’s since Mikey Varas appointment as Tab Ramos’ replacement last November, providing the head coach with a first-hand glimpse of watching his players in a competitive atmosphere. The Americans have featured in friendly matches over the past few months, but for many players, this will be their first taste of Concacaf action together.
“The important thing is that we focus on what we can control,” Varas said in a conference call with reporters. “We have a process to overcome any challenges that get in our way, but we know challenges will occur. The strengths of our team are clear, the culture is incredible, there is an amazing feeling amongst the boys in terms of finding the right balance of good people who want to fight for each other and this country.
“We have a lot of players here that embrace competition, they don’t shriek at a challenge,” Varas added. “Everybody will be nervous in a big game, that’s normal, but we have players that smile in that moment. We’re a really strong pressing team and I think that is one of our strengths and our transition from defense to offense is getting better every single day. Our build-up play is something that takes time, but we’ve made great strides as a team.”
Varas’ squad has a lot of familiarity with one another with many of the current players featuring in every window to date since the head coach’s hiring. Cade Cowell headlines the attacking options and brings the most experience to the table, after registering 65 MLS appearances since debuting in 2020.
Seattle Sounders midfielder Obed Vargas has also impressed in MLS this season, but will not join up with the USMNT U-20’s until the knockout stage. Caden Clark, Paxten Aaronson, and Tyler Wolff have also featured throughout league play, giving Varas a number of creative attacking pieces to work into his lineups.
“We had players who had opportunities with their clubs, so what we did look at when making decisions was bringing in versatile players,” Varas said. “We wanted players that could play in the front line, but also play in the midfield too if needed. Although it looks like we have three forwards on the roster, we really have three versatile pieces. Paxten [Aaronson] can play as a forward, but can also play as a No. 10, and has been practicing as a false No. 9, so those types of things really became an important factor for us.”
Several MLS NEXT Pro and Academy players will also be relied on for the USMNT U-20’s, especially after earning minutes in different levels at club level. Brandan Craig, Chris Brady, Antonio Carrera, and Noah Allen are just four of several players to feature during the inaugural MLS NEXT Pro campaign while Diego Luna just recently made his debut with Real Monarchs after joining from USL side El Paso Locomotive.
The U.S. U-20s will have a busy week ahead, starting with group stage matches against Saint Kitts and Nevis, Canada, and Cuba over the next six days. The good news for Varas is his players have been garnering regular minutes and capitalizing on the increased number of playing opportunities for young Americans.
“I think the direction that our country is going and the terms of the competition platform that allows for the development of top talent is continuing to improve year in and year out, whether it’s USL Championship, USL League One, MLS, or MLS NEXT Pro,” Varas said. “It’s helping tremendously because it’s not easy to break into a first team at the age that a lot of these guys are. Having a lot of these platforms for these players to play regularly is massive. I hope we can continue to invest in these infrastructures that will help our talent develop.”
The remaining 15 national teams will be aiming to knock the USMNT U-20’s off of its perch as two-time defending champions, especially rivals Mexico and Canada. Canada will face off with the USMNT U-20’s on Monday while Mexico will have to wait until at least the knockout stage to square off with its major rivals.
Expectations will be high for Varas and the USMNT U-20’s, especially with several promising talents in the squad. However, no opponent can be overlooked, starting with Saint Kitts and Nevis at Estadio Nacional on Saturday night.
Here is the full schedule for the USMNT U-20’s at the Concacaf Championship:
Saturday – vs. Saint Kitts and Nevis (8:30 p.m. ET)
Monday – vs. Canada (8:30 p.m. ET)
Wednesday vs. Cuba (8:30 p.m ET)
Also time change kicked off at 4 EST. As expected US will all the possession 8 mins in.
13th minute Alvarado clearly fouled in box. Wins the ball StK&N just runs him over 17 yards out. Ref decides to call the foul on Alvarado purely to avoid having to call an early penalty. Oh Concacaf!
VAR steps in Cowell with the pk. 1-0
Another VAR ruled penalty on a handball in the box on a Cowell cross. Clark takes it this time. 2-0 USA 33rd minute.
Wolff a tap in on a deflected cross from Cuevas. Pouskas off a well taken corner by Tsakiris, Cuevas with a golazo from the top right corner of the 18, 43rd, 45th, 45+2. Everyone looks good but competition is lacking. Tsarkiris with a pk after Clark brought down 6-0 at half. Not much for me on the penalty Clark fouled in the box.
An own goal by keeper just after half 7-0, 2 from Paxton Aaronson, and Tsakiris with a tap in from Sullivan and it’s 10-0 at the 70th minute water break. StK&N keeper in the Stoke City system probably be 14 or 15 without him making some good saves early.
US 10-0. Should be enough to qualify them for the knockout rounds (just have to finish 3rd). If the US wins the group they’ll face Nicaragua which are ranked below St Kitts. How Concacaf ranked the U20s I have no idea but those first knockout rounds for the group winners going to be ugly.
Are these matches streaming anywhere?
Concacaf YouTube channel allegedly and their Facebook page. TUDN has Spanish broadcast if you get that channel.
VAR overrules. Cowell scores the PK US 1-0 19th minute.
little lost that we’re still talking “availability” for a midsummer tournament whose timing we deliberately pushed so we would have european player access for a change. this is U20 and U23 qualifying and we’re letting people out for “opportunities,” ie club summer training camp? on top of this would already be unusually depleted because the barren NT coffers post 2017 led to “graduating” a lot of NT worthy players who otherwise are age eligible (eg slonina scally pepi musah). like i can see almost a whole lineup or so worth of players better than this roster, and it’s not because we’re playing in march…….maybe this is just going to be our plight going forward as a mature soccer nation with players in demand…….
Clubs are not required to release for any youth tournament even ones held during international windows which this is not. There is no “letting people out”. Concacaf could have eased the release of players by scheduling this tournament at the same time NL and UEFA U21 Championship, and MLS break.
——————————————
Pretty short sighted of MLS clubs claiming they can’t give up players for three matches, when an Olympics run would do more to draw causal fans to them than finishing 7th instead of 10th in the league standings.