U.S. U-20 National Team Chases History at the World Cup
With Benjamín Cremaschi leading the way, the U.S. U-20 National Team looks to make history at the 2025 World Cup in Chile against a tough Morocco side, aiming to reach the semifinals for the first time in over three decades.
The American Dream at the U-20 World Cup
The U.S. U-20 National Team is on the brink of something historic. After a brilliant group stage and a dominant win over Italy in the Round of 16, Marko Mitrović’s squad is set to face Morocco in the quarterfinals of the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile. The match will be played at Estadio Codelco El Teniente in Rancagua, where the “Stars and Stripes” hope to secure a place among the world’s top four teams.
The team’s standout leader is Benjamín Cremaschi, a midfielder developed by Inter Miami, who is enjoying a spectacular tournament. With five goals to his name, he currently shares the top scorer spot with Colombian star Néiser Villarreal, who recorded a memorable hat-trick against Spain. Cremaschi not only wears the captain’s armband but also serves as the emotional and tactical engine of a side praised for its energy, structure, and relentless desire to compete.
If the USYNT advances, it would replicate an achievement not seen since the 1989 U-20 World Cup in Saudi Arabia, when the United States reached the semifinals after defeating Iraq, before falling to Nigeria and Brazil.
Morocco, a Formidable Challenge Ahead
The path forward won’t be easy. Morocco arrives as the winner of the so-called “Group of Death,” having beaten Spain (2–0) and Brazil (2–1), losing only to Mexico in a match where it rested several key players. In the Round of 16, the “Atlas Lions” edged South Korea 2–1, proving their strength and tactical balance.
However, Mitrović’s team knows the Africans well. The two sides recently met in a pair of friendly matches in September, with the Americans winning 4–1 and drawing 0–0.
That familiarity could be crucial for a squad that combines youth, discipline, and emerging talent through players like Niko Tsakiris, Cole Campbell, and Taha Habroune, all of whom have shined at key moments in the tournament.
With Cremaschi as their driving force, the U.S. U-20 National Team is determined to make its mark in Chile and prove that the future of American soccer is as bright as ever. The semifinals are within reach — and the American dream is alive and well.
