The 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup will be heading to South America after Argentina was chosen as the new hosts of the competition.
FIFA announced the decision on Monday after the country’s bid to host the tournament. Indonesia was the original host for the U-20 World Cup, but FIFA stripped their hosting rights after the country refused to host Israel’s national team.
The World Cup draw was slated for March 31, but will now take place on April 21. The tournament begins on May 20 and concludes on June 11.
“FIFA is delighted to announce that this year’s edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup will take place in Argentina, as the home of the world champions opens its doors to the tomorrow’s superstars of world football,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “I would like to thank the AFA and particularly its President Claudio Tapia, as well as the governmental authorities, for their commitment to hosting this magnificent event at such short notice.
“The U-20 World Cup plays a key role in FIFA’s efforts to promote youth football across the world,” Infantino added. “Since 1977, this tournament has featured some of the greatest players of the past decades, including Diego Armando Maradona, Lionel Messi, Paul Pogba, Erling Haaland and many others. Having this year’s edition taking place in a country that lives and breathes football will be a tremendous inspiration for the stars of tomorrow.”
The U.S. Under-20 men’s national team is one of 23 national teams to qualify for the U-20 World Cup, joining Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and Honduras as Concacaf’s four representatives.
Mikey Varas’ squad won the Concacaf U-20 Championship last summer, with former Philadelphia Union homegrown Paxten Aaronson taking home the tournament’s Golden Boot and Ball awards respectively.
as a side effect argentina gets their YNT in the tourney despite blowing qualifying.
this raises the odds we play conmebol to a high chance. they were already 50% just by chance from pot 2 — 3 of the 6 teams. but argentina draws first from pot 2 and consumes one of the non conmebol as they cannot play south america in group. at which point it becomes 60%, ie 3 of 5. if uruguay is drawn to a group before us then it’s 75% odds per the same rule. and failing that england is one of the non conmebol options for pot 2.
You have the added issue of Ben Cremaschi possibly having a decision to make between US U20 and Argentina U20s.