With its Under-20 World Cup berth secured, the U.S. U-20 Men’s Youth National Team will face host Honduras in the Concacaf U-20 Championship Semifinals on Friday (FS1, 9 p.m. ET) for a berth to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The USA is seeking its first appearance at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament since Beijing 2008 and is aiming to win its third straight Concacaf U-20 Championship. The U-20 MYNT secured one of the region’s four U-20 World Cup berths with a 2-0 victory against Costa Rica in the tournament quarterfinals.

The Americans have failed to reach the 2012, 2016 and 2021 Summer Games.

Honduras came from behind to defeat Panama, 2-1, in the quarterfinals before a sellout crowd at Estadio Morazán in San Pedro Sula. Los Catrachos are aiming for their fifth consecutive Olympic qualification as well as their third Concacaf U-20 title and first since 1994.

The USA is 2-4-4 all-time vs. Honduras at the Concacaf U-20 Championship, including an undefeated 2-0-3 in the last five match-ups dating back to 1992.

The U.S. earned high-stakes victories against Los Catrachos in their last two meetings at the 2018 and 2017 tournaments. In 2018, the USA topped Honduras 1-0 in the qualification stage to clinch its spot in the tournament final as forward Ayo Akinola scored just after halftime.

In 2017, the USA won its first-ever Concacaf U-20 Championship with a penalty kick shootout victory against Honduras. After a scoreless 90 minutes, the game went straight to penalties and the U.S. came out on top 5-3. Current senior USMNT midfielder Luca de la Torre converted one of the game-winning kicks.

U.S. roster

GOALKEEPERS (2): Christopher Brady (Chicago Fire FC; Naperville, Ill.; 5/0), Antonio Carrera (FC Dallas; Frisco, Texas; 1/0)

DEFENDERS (6): Noah Allen (Inter Miami CF; Miramar, Fla.; 3/0), Brandan Craig (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.; 4/0), Mauricio Cuevas (Club Brugge/BEL; Los Angeles, Calif.; 6/1), Marcus Ferkranus (LA Galaxy; Santa Clarita, Calif.; 4/0), Michael Halliday (Orlando City SC; Apopka, Fla.; 5/0), Jalen Neal (LA Galaxy; Lakewood, Calif.; 7/1)

MIDFIELDERS (9): Paxten Aaronson (Philadelphia Union; Medford, N.J.; 8/5), Alejandro Alvarado Jr. (FC Vizela/POR; Los Angeles, Calif.; 4/0), Caden Clark (New York Red Bulls; Wayzata, Minn.; 8/2), Daniel Edelman (New York Red Bulls; Warren, N.J.; 6/0), Jackson Hopkins (D.C. United; Fredericksburg, Va.; 1/0), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake; Sunnyvale, Calif.; 8/2), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union; Middle Village, N.Y.; 8/1), Rokas Pukstas (Hajduk Split/CRO; Sillwater, Okla.; 7/1), Niko Tsakiris (San Jose Earthquakes; Saratoga, Calif.; 3/2)

FORWARDS (3): Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes; Ceres, Calif.; 7/2), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.; 7/6), Tyler Wolff (Atlanta United FC; Braselton, Ga.; 6/1)

 

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Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.