The U.S. Under-20 women’s youth national team will face Ghana, Netherlands and Japan in Group D at the U-20 Women’s World Cup, which will take place Aug. 10-28 in Costa Rica.
The final draw for the competition took place today at the National Theatre in San Jose, Costa Rica.
The USA opens the tournament Aug. 11 against Ghana, faces the Netherlands on Sunday, Aug. 14 and finishes the group stage vs. Japan on Wednesday, Aug. 17. The U.S. will play its first and third group games at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, Costa Rica and its second group game at the Estadio Nacional in San José.
“We can’t wait to take on the challenge of a World Cup,” U.S. U-20 WYNT head coach Tracey Kevins said in a statement. “I’m excited by our draw and the chance to take on some of the world’s best teams. To play the reigning champion in Japan, a rising European power in the Netherlands and an always dangerous African squad in Ghana is an incredible opportunity for our players. We have an expectation of excellence in our Women’s National Team program and we’ll be preparing every day until August 11 to give our best possible performance in Costa Rica.”
The USA qualified for the World Cup by winning its record seventh Concacaf Women’s U-20 Championship in March, rattling off seven straight victories and a 49-0 goal differential. The U.S. is one of four nations to compete in all 10 editions of the U-20 Women’s World Cup, winning the tournament in 2002, 2008 and 2012, which is tied for the most-ever world championships at this age level.
