STANFORD, Calif. – Junior Elise Evans has been selected by United States Under-20 Women’s Youth National Team head coach Tracey Kevins to represent the U.S. at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia from August 31 through September 22.
The USA roster is composed of eight professional players currently in the National Women’s Soccer League, 12 college players and one player still in youth soccer. Players born on or after January 1, 2004, are age-eligible for the World Cup and the USA roster features 13 players born in 2004, four born in 2005 and four born in 2006.
The lone player still in high school to make the World Cup roster is 5-11 goalkeeper Caroline Birkel, who plays for St. Louis Scott Gallagher.
Including Evans, 10 of the 20 players who helped the USA qualify for this World Cup in the spring of 2023 at the Concacaf Women’s U-20 Championship made the World Cup roster. Joining Evans from that group are: Goalkeepers Teagan Wy and Mackenzie Gress, defenders Gisele Thompson, Leah Klenke and Savy King, midfielder Ally Lemos, and forwards Maddie Dahlien, Ally Sentnor and Jordynn Dudley.
“We couldn’t be more excited to have this group of young and talented players represent us at the U-20 Women's World Cup,” said Kevins. “We are grateful to the NWSL clubs and colleges that collaborated with us on the release of their players to provide them with the unique opportunity to represent their country on the biggest international stage for their age group.”
2024 FIFA U.S. U-20 Women’s World Cup Roster by Position (College or Club; Hometown; U-20 Caps/Goals)
GOALKEEPERS (3): Caroline Birkel (St. Louis Scott Gallagher; St. Louis, Mo.; 0), Mackenzie Gress (Penn State; Lyndhurst, N.J.; 5), Teagan Wy (California; Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.; 8)
DEFENDERS (6): Jordyn Bugg (Seattle Reign; El Cajon, Calif.; 12/0), Elise Evans (Stanford; Redwood City, Calif.; 12/0), Heather Gilchrist (Florida State, Boulder, Colo.; 6/0), Savy King (Bay FC; West Hills, Calif.; 12/0), Leah Klenke (Notre Dame; Houston, Texas; 11/0), Gisele Thompson (Angel City FC; Studio City, Calif.; 7/1)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Sam Courtwright (Texas Tech; Dallas, Texas; 8/0), Claire Hutton (Kansas City Current; Bethlehem, N.Y.; 5/0), Riley Jackson (North Carolina Courage; Roswell, Ga.; 8/1), Ally Lemos (Orlando Pride; Glendora, Calif.; 13/1), Yuna McCormack (Virginia; Mill Valley, Calif.; 0/0), Taylor Suarez (Florida State; Charlotte, N.C.; 8/1)
FORWARDS (6): Emeri Adames (Seattle Reign; Red Oak, Texas; 6/1), Maddie Dahlien (North Carolina; Edina, Minn.; 8/4), Jordynn Dudley (Florida State; Milton, Ga.; 9/3), Giana Riley (Florida State; Manteca, Calif.; 8/1), Ally Sentnor (Utah Royals; Hanson, Mass.; 16/9), Pietra Tordin (Princeton; Miami, Fla.; 7/2)
“The U-20 age group has provided many players with the opportunity to take another step towards playing for our Women’s National Team and the experience of playing in World Cup tournament is not something you can replicate,” added Kevins. “I know as a group they are all excited to test themselves on the world stage as they all strive to take their soccer careers to the next level.”
For the first time ever, and in its 11th installment, the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup will feature 24 nations. This competition started in 2002 as a 12-team tournament played at the U-19 level. The 2004 tournament was also U-19s before moving to U-20s for the 2006 tournament. The USA has played in every FIFA tournament at this age level.
The 24 teams that will compete in the tournament are host Colombia, Brazil, Paraguay, Venezuela and Argentina from South America, France, Spain, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands from Europe, the USA, Mexico, Canada and Costa Rica from Concacaf, Cameroon, Morocco, Nigeria and Ghana from Africa, Australia, Korea Republic, Japan and Korea DPR from Asia and New Zealand and Fiji from Oceania.
The first-time participants in this tournament are Austria, Cameroon, Fiji and Morocco while 16 teams return from the 2022 edition.
The 24 participating nations were drawn into six groups of four teams. The top two finishers in each group along with the four best third-place teams will advance to the Round of 16 to be played on Wednesday, September 11 and Thursday, September 12. The winners of those matches advance to the Quarterfinals on Sunday, September 15, from which the winners will advance to the Semifinals on Wednesday, September 18. The Third-Place Match will be held on Saturday, September 21 with the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup Final taking place on Sunday, September 22.
Matches will take place at four stadiums in three Colombian cities: Bogotá’s El Campín Stadium and El Techo Stadium, Cali’s Pascual Guerrero Stadium and Medellin’s Atanasio Girardot Stadium.
The USA will open the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup on Sunday, September 1 (1 p.m. PT) against reigning FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup champions Spain, will face Morocco on Wednesday, September 4 (6 p.m. PT) and will finish the group stage vs. Paraguay on Saturday, September 7 (4 p.m. PT). The U.S. will play its first two group games at Pascual Guerrero Stadium in Cali and its third at El Techo Stadium in the capital of Bogotá.
2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup
Group C – USA Schedule
|
Date |
Match |
Kickoff (PT) |
Venue; City |
Broadcast |
|
Sept. 1 |
USA vs. Spain |
1 p.m. |
Pascual Guerrero Stadium; Cali, Colombia |
TBA |
|
Sept. 4 |
USA vs. Morocco |
6 p.m. |
Pascual Guerrero Stadium; Cali, Colombia |
TBA |
|
Sept. 7 |
USA vs. Paraguay |
4 p.m. |
El Techo Stadium; Bogotá, Colombia |
TBA |