The U.S. have been knocking at the door, but what needs to change to finally open it? That question remains after another exit
The United States' promising run at the 2025 U20 World Cup came to a sudden halt as they were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Morocco, 3-1. If it sounds familiar, it should. Last year at the Paris Summer Olympics, the U.S. U23s were also beaten by the same nation at the same stage of the competition, 4-0.
While the U.S. didn't break new ground in this World Cup, there were areas in which the team did make a sizable impact. The U.S. opened in Chile with a 9-1 thrashing of New Caledonia, but theirreally took off against France three days later.
Up against a country that year after year produces world-class players, this was a match that the U.S. – on paper – should have lost. France were filled with highly-regarded Ligue 1 prospects. But once things got going, the Americans – largely filled with MLS prospects – took firm control.
The 3-0 scoreline grabbed headlines around the world, but the bigger surprise was that it took the U.S. as long as it did to score – knocking in all three goals in a six-minute span, started in the 88th minute by RSL's Zavier Gozo. The U.S. dominated on almost every attacking metric, from chances created to shots taken to corners attempted. It was a sign of things to come.
In the Round of 16, it was more of the same, as the U.S. stormed past Italy – another soccer powerhouse in terms of developing talent – in a 3-0 rout. It might have surprised some, but those results weren't coincidental, despite how it all ended for Marko Mitrovic's side.
Yet, the reality is, this was the U.S.'s fifth straight trip to the quarterfinals. The Americans have been knocking at the door, but what needs to change to finally open it? That question will remain after another disappointing end on Sunday.
GOAL looks at the winners and losers of the U.S. performance at the U20 World Cup.
Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowGetty ImagesWINNER: Benjamin Cremaschi
Benjamin Cremaschi hinted at all of this just days before the U20 World Cup began.
"We know that these types of international tournaments could be a huge change for a young player's career – there's a lot of eyes and a lot of people watching," he told FIFA's website.
Following a summer in which the former Inter Miami midfielder was uncharacteristically vocal, Cremaschi more than backed up his words with his play. The 20-year-old tallied five goals and two assists in five matches.
A record-setter for Inter Miami – including becoming the club’s first homegrown USMNT call-up – Cremaschi was known for his usually polite, media-friendly personality. But midway through his third season, his tone changed. He admitted frustration with his minutes and role on a star-studded roster featuring Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, and, most recently, Rodrigo De Paul – a direct competitor for his position in central midfield.
“I’m frustrated, I want to play," Cremaschi told reporters in August. "I think the most important thing for me is to be at a very high level, and to get there, I need minutes and experience. I’ve played very little in these recent games, and I don’t think it’s because of my level."
Those comments didn’t sit well with Miami manager Javier Mascherano, who essentially responded with “deal with it.” Three weeks later, Cremaschi was gone – securing a loan move to Serie A side Parma. Despite the public spat, Cremaschi insists he left Mascherano and Messi on good terms.
"People think that we were fighting or that we didn't have a good relationship, but things weren't like that at all," Cremaschi said. "Obviously, I've never spoken about it, never said anything about it. I think he hasn't either, because we both talked about it personally and just kind of left it off… We parted on good terms."
Cremaschi said the lessons he learned from Messi were career-shaping.
"A lot of important players have played in these tournaments," he said. "Whenever I saw the chance, I would try to learn from him [Messi]. I would try to absorb everything that he does: the way he takes care of himself, the way he manages himself, and obviously the things that he does. Great guy, even better player, and it was a very, very good experience playing with him."
While Cremaschi is still far from Messi’s stratosphere, he was the U.S.’s top scorer at the tournament while playing centrally. His assertiveness and tactical vision – traits he often observed in the Argentine great – were on display in Chile, even if on a smaller scale. More importantly, that growth could serve as a blueprint for how Parma ultimately use him once he makes his debut.
AdvertisementAFPLOSERS: Diego Kochen and Adam Beaudry
One thing is clear: Barcelona's Diego Kochen would have started for the U.S. U20s had he not been abruptly called back by his club team due to injuries at the goalkeeper position.
On the national team side, it's a huge loss as the program could have benefited from having an extended look at a player who is widely considered the best young American goalkeeper. He's already received senior national team call-ups but remains uncapped, and he currently largely plays for Barcelona's reserve team.
Considering some of the opponents the U.S. faced, this could have served as a development opportunity for the goalkeeper.
With Kochen out, Mitrovic went with the Rapids' rising young American backup goalkeeper, Adam Beaudry. The 19-year-old showed some glimpses of why he's highly-regarded, but overall was inconsistent. There is a case to be made that the U.S. wouldn't have lost 3-1 to Morocco if a steadier hand was in goal.
AFPWINNER: Niko Tsakiris
San Jose aren't having the season expected in Bruce Arena's first year with the club, with their playoff hopes hanging by a thread in 11th place. Regardless of what happens with the club on Decision Day, they can take some optimism into next season from the performances of Tsakiris.
With the U.S. frontline struggling for consistency, the scoring burden fell on the central midfield, and Tsakiris complemented Cremaschi well in that space. The midfielder scored two goals and had an assist, showing strength in delivering in dead-ball situations.
Tsakiris had a limited role with the Quakes this season, playing in 10 matches after appearing in 25 in the team's Wooden Spoon season. If this tournament is anything to go by, it could signal he's taken another step in his development. Stay tuned.
AFPLOSER: Cole Campbell
Much is expected of Dortmund's Cole Campbell, and he's shown in small spurts why he could be an exciting part of the USMNT's future.
He's got good pace, has some crafty technical skills, and plays for a team renowned for bringing out the best in young players. Yet, on both the club and now the youth international level, he appears to have stagnated.
Campbell was heavily linked with a move away from Dortmund after making four league appearances last season, and in this campaign, he's played just 17 minutes in one appearance. At the U20 World Cup, Campbell started all five games and scored a respectable two goals. Yet those stats don't tell the full story. His decision-making, both in scoring and passing opportunities, left a lot to be desired.
Considering Campbell's pedigree, this was a chance for him to leave an impression. After a mixed tournament, the Houston native remains a work-in-progress.
