Team USA's U-20 World Cup​ run has come to an end after Wednesday's 1-0 semifinal loss to tournament favorites North Korea (DPRK).

The result marks the U-20 USWNT's best showing since their 2016's fourth-place finish, when they similarly fell to DPRK in the semis before the North Korean side advanced to win the Cup.

DPRK outshot the US 18-7 last night, but 17-year-old Choe Il-Son was the lone player to find the back of the net, securing the eventual game-winner in the 22nd minute. With five goals on the tournament so far, Choe is now in a three-way tie atop the competition's Golden Boot race.

Manaka Matsukubo celebrates one of her two goals with teammate Maya Hijikata in Japan's 2024 U-20 World Cup semifinal win
NC Courage midfielder Manaka Matsukubo's brace secured Japan's spot in Sunday's U-20 World Cup final. (Gabriel Aponte - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Japan tops the Netherlands in second semifinal

While the US gave DPRK arguably their toughest match of the World Cup, Japan overwhelmed the Dutch with their attacking prowess last night, outshooting the Netherlands' 24-1 to notch the 2-0 win.

Notably, both goals by "the Young Nadeshiko" were scored by North Carolina Courage midfielder Manaka Matsukubo, the only NWSL player on Japan's roster.

North Korea players celebrate their U-20 World Cup semifinal win over the US
North Korea will face Asian Cup rival Japan in Sunday's U-20 World Cup final. (NELSON RIOS/AFP via Getty Images)

Where to watch the U-20 World Cup final and third-place match

On Saturday, the US will battle the Netherlands for third-place hardware, with live coverage on Fox Soccer Plus.

Then on Sunday, the World Cup championship match will mirror March's U-20 Asian Cup final, where DPRK forced six-time champs Japan to relinquish the title for the first time since 2013. The final will air live on FS2.

Should DPRK emerge victorious on Sunday, they'll join the US and Germany as the only nations with three U-20 World Championships.

The USYNT cruised to the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup knockout round in historic fashion on Saturday, routing Paraguay 7-0 in Bogotá, Colombia, thanks to stellar showings from young NCAA and NWSL standouts.

Armed with the most pros to ever feature on a US U-20 World Cup roster with eight NWSL rookies, the USYNT pulled off the largest U-20 WWC win in team history.

The US hasn't won a U-20 WWC in 12 years​, with 2024 marking the first time they've made it out of the tournament's group stage since 2016.

USYNT striker and Princeton junior Pietra Tordin celebrates her first U-20 World Cup goal on Saturday.
USYNT striker Pietra Tordin scored a hat trick in Saturday's U-20 World Cup win over Paraguay. (Ricardo Moreira - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Young NWSL and NCAA players level up the U-20 game

Though long viewed as inferior to Europe and its club-based academy system, US players opting to turn pro at younger ages are making the USYNT increasingly competitive — a trend that's also pushing college programs to new heights.

In Saturday's win, Angel City defender Gisele Thompson​ and Utah Royals rookie Ally Sentnor both found the back of the net, while the youngest goal-scorer in Seattle Reign history, winger Emeri Adames, tied Heather O'Reilly's 2002 national record for most assists in a single U-20 World Cup game with three in the first half. 

Representing the NCAA, Princeton junior Pietra Tordin made her U-20 World Cup scoring debut count with a hat trick — the first US player to do so since Savannah DeMelo in 2018.

USYNT and Utah Royals attacker Ally Sentnor battles Mexico players for possession in a July friendly.
The US will face Concacaf rival Mexico in Wedneday's U-20 World Cup Round of 16. (Jason Allen/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

USYNT to face Mexico in U-20 knockout clash

Unlike previous editions, this year's expanded U-20 World Cup​ includes a Round of 16 for the first time. 

The USYNT will face regional rival Mexico tomorrow, a team they lost to in the 2023 Concacaf Championship​ final before settling two July friendlies with a draw and a win.

How to watch the US vs. Mexico at the U-20 World Cup

Catch the US women's youth national team take on Mexico in U-20 World Cup action at 9 PM ET on Wednesday, with live coverage on FS2.

The Concacaf Women’s U-20 Championship is here, with the U.S. youth national team looking to once again take the title. The USYNT also won the two previous editions, in 2020 and 2022.

A number of USWNT greats found their start on the U-20 team, including Kelley O’Hara, Sydney Leroux and Mallory Swanson, who took home Golden Boot honors at the tournament in 2008, 2010 and 2015, respectively. Meanwhile, current USWNT forwards Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman were on the squad that won the 2020 championship.

While Jaedyn Shaw and Olivia Moultrie are absent from this tournament’s roster due to their NWSL commitments, USWNT and Angel City forward Alyssa Thompson’s younger sister Gisele Thompson will play in the tournament.

The USWNT is in Group A and will face off against Panama, Jamaica and Canada.

*All times are in ET. Matches were postponed from their original dates due to inclement weather on Wednesday.

  • Friday, May 26: United States vs. Panama, 6 p.m. — FS1
  • Sunday, May 28: United States vs. Jamaica, 6 p.m. — FS2
  • Tuesday, May 30: United States vs. Canada, 6 p.m. — FS2

From there, the semifinals will be played on Friday, June 2. The championship match and the third-place match will take place on Sunday, June 4.

The two finalists, as well as the third-place match winner, will automatically qualify for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

U-20 U.S. women’s youth national team roster

GOALKEEPERS (3): Valentina Amaral (Florida Kraze Krush SC; Oviedo, Fla.), Mackenzie Gress (Penn State; Lyndhurst, N.J.), Teagan Wy (California; Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.)

DEFENDERS (6): Tessa Dellarose (UNC; Grindstone, Pa.), Ella Emri (San Diego Surf SC; San Diego, Calif.), Elise Evans (Stanford; Redwood City, Calif.), Savannah King (Slammers FC HB Koge; West Hills, Calif.), Leah Klenke (Notre Dame; Houston, Texas), Gisele Thompson (Total Futbol Academy; Studio City, Calif.)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Jasmine Aikey (Stanford; Palo Alto, Calif.), Sofia Cook (UCLA; Huntington Beach, Cali), Jill Flammia (Virginia; Manakin-Sabot, Va.), Shae Harvey (Slammers FC HB Køge; Hermosa Beach, Calif.), Ally Lemos (UCLA; Glendora, Calif.), Lauren Martinho (North Carolina Courage Academy; Cary, N.C.)

FORWARDS (6): Maggie Cagle (Virginia; Phoenix, Ariz.), Madeline Dahlien (UNC; Edina, Minn.), Jordynn Dudley (United Futbol Academy; Milton, Ga.), Onyeka Gamero (Beach FC; Cerritos, Calif.), Kat Rader (Duke; Stuart, Fla.), Ally Sentnor (UNC; Hanson, Mass.)