Latest news with #U20WorldCup
Al Arabiya
2 days ago
- General
- Al Arabiya
Who will Saudi Arabia play at the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup?
The draw for the 2025 FIFA Under-20 World Cup has been made, with Saudi Arabia discovering its opponents for the tournament – which will be played in Chile between September 27 and October 19. It will be the first time that Saudi Arabia has competed in the global competition since 2019, after the 2021 edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Green Falcons failed to qualify in 2023. But having finished as runner-up to Australia at the AFC U20 Asian Cup in China in April, Marcos Soares' side will be among the participants again at this year's edition in Chile. Saudi Arabia's team is expected to be led again by prodigious Al Ittihad youngsters Talal Haji and Farnah al-Shamrani, who played on loan at Al Riyadh and Al Kholood respectively in the Saudi Pro League this season. In Chile, Saudi Arabia will face Colombia, Norway and Nigeria in Group F, with all three of the Green Falcons' group stage matches taking place in the Estadio Fiscal de Talca – around 250 km south of the Chilean capital Santiago. Here, Al Arabiya English takes a closer look at Saudi Arabia's opponents at the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup. Colombia Colombia earned its spot in Chile after finishing third in the 2025 South American U20 Championship. While most confederations use a traditional knockout tournament format, in South America the continental championship is played across two group stages. Colombia – coached by Cesar Torres – topped its first group, drawing with Argentina before beating Ecuador, Bolivia and Brazil. In the final stage, Torres' side claimed convincing wins against Paraguay, Chile and Uruguay, but narrowly lost 1-0 to Argentina and eventual champion Brazil. Colombia's squad has a mix of domestic and international-based players –with the likes of Keimer Sandoval (Real Betis), Oscar Perea (Strasbourg). Yeimar Mosquera (Aston Villa) and Alexei Rojas (Arsenal) playing in Europe. Center-back Mosquera is looking to follow in the footsteps of Jhon Duran at Villa, with his compatriot having starred in the Premier League before making a record move to Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr earlier this January. The star of this team, however, is Néiser Villarreal. The 20-year-old midfielder plays for one of Colombia's most iconic clubs, Bogota's Millonarios, and won the 2025 South American U20 Championship Golden Boot with eight goals in nine matches. That included an eye-catching hat-trick against Paraguay for Villarreal, who also contributed four assists at the tournament. Colombia is a three-time continental champion at U20 level, most recently winning the title in 2013, and it has reached the quarter-finals of the past two FIFA U20 World Cups, losing to Italy in 2023 and Ukraine in 2019. Its best ever finish on the global stage was third place, achieved in 2003 in the UAE, with a team that included future internationals Fredy Guarin, Abil Aguilar and Yulian Anchico. When Saudi Arabia and Colombia meet in their opening match on September 29, it will be the first time they have competed against each other at the FIFA U20 World Cup. At senior level, the two nations have only played three previous matches – with Colombia winning their most recent friendly 1-0 in June 2022. Nigeria Saudi Arabia will take on Nigeria for the third time at the FIFA U20 World Cup, in the second Group F game on October 2. The two nations first battled it out in 1989 when what was then known as the FIFA World Youth Championships was held in the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia faced Nigeria in its opening game but despite taking the lead, succumbed to a 2-1 defeat to the Super Eagles. One of the scorers that day was Mutiu Adepoju, who went on to play for Al Ittihad. That Super Eagles side was just one-game from history in Saudi Arabia, finishing as runner-up to Portugal in the final at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh. Had it won, it would have become the first African side to win the tournament – an honor that eventually went to Ghana in 2009. Saudi Arabia and Nigeria also played each other in the 2011 tournament, which was held in Colombia. Goals from Ahmed Musa and Olarenwaju Kayode gave Nigeria a 2-0 win, with Musa also coincidentally going on to play his football in the Kingdom with Al Nassr. Both sides made it through Group D, with Saudi Arabia going on to lose to Brazil in the next round, while Nigeria beat England before losing to France in the quarter-finals. At senior level, there have only been two previous contests, a 0-0 draw in 2010 and a 2-2 draw in October 2023. Nigeria has a rich history at youth level and is a record seven-time winner of the CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations – though it hasn't won the trophy since 2015. As well as reaching the 1989 FIFA U20 World Cup final, Nigeria also finished second in 2005 after having the misfortune of facing an Argentina team led by Sergio Aguero and Lionel Messi in the final. Messi scored twice in a 2-1 win over the Super Eagles. The current Nigeria team, coached by Aliyu Zubairu, relies on a number of players still based in West Africa. Defender Daniel Bameyi has already made his senior debut for the Super Eagles, while there are high hopes for Precious Benjamin and Emmanuel Shukwu, who are both in the youth system at German Bundesliga side Hoffenheim. The FIFA U20 World Cup has consistently been a great shop window for Nigerian players, with the likes of Daniel Daga, Solomno Agbalaka, Benjamin Fredrick, Jude Sunday and Samson Lawal all earning moves to Europe after the 2023 tournament. Nigeria won its place at the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup after finishing in third place at the 2023 U20 Africa Cup of Nations – recovering from a surprise semi-final defeat to Gambia to beat Tunisia 4-0 in the third-place playoff. Ahmed Abdullahi was one of the Super Eagles' strongest performers and is currently playing for newly-promoted English Premier League club Sunderland. Norway Saudi Arabia and Norway last faced off at the FIFA U20 World Cup back in 1993, sharing a 0-0 draw in their group stage encounter in Adelaide as neither team made it through to the knockout stage of the tournament Down Under. They will play again 22 years later in the final Group F match in Chile on October 5. At senior level, there has only been one previous meeting between Norway and Saudi Arabia, with the former winning 6-0 in a friendly match in 1998; Manchester United striker – and future Red Devils manager – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored twice. On its last appearance at the FIFA U20 World Cup in 2019, Norway made history by recording the biggest win in the tournament's history. That 12-0 thrashing of Honduras was notable for current Manchester City star Erling Haaland bagging a triple hat-trick – becoming the first player to score nine goals in one match for a national team at a major tournament. He unsurprisingly finished as the 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup's top scorer, though surprisingly failed to add any more goals as Norway was eliminated at the group stage thanks to defeats to Uruguay and New Zealand. Norway – led by coach Pal Arne Johansen – qualified for the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup after finishing third in its group at the 2024 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. That meant a one-off play-off against Turkey, which Norway won 10-9 in an astonishing penalty shootout after the teams had drawn 1-1. Norway successfully converted every single one of its spot-kicks. The 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile will be Norway's fourth time at the tournament but it has only won two of its nine games – suffering elimination at the group stage in all three of its previous appearances in 1989, 1993 and 2019. Norway's team is likely to feature many of the same players who played at last summer's UEFA U19 European Championship. That includes highly-rated Travis Hernes, the Jamaican-born midfielder who was signed by English Premier League club Newcastle United in 2023 and played on loan for Danish Superliga club AaB in the 2024-25 season. Fellow midfielder Benjamin Faraas was developed in the highly-rated youth system of Belgian side Club Brugge, while the rest of the squad is made up of players from Norway's top clubs – including Rosenborg and Molde.
CBC
3 days ago
- General
- CBC
Canada qualifies for FIFA U20 Women's World Cup after beating Nicaragua
Canada booked its ticket to the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup by virtue of its 4-1 win over Nicaragua coupled with Mexico's 4-0 victory over Panama on Saturday at the CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship in Alajuela, Costa Rica. The eight-team CONCACAF tournament, which runs through June 8 at Alejandro Morera Soto Stadium, will send four CONCACAF sides to the 24-team FIFA U-20 World Cup, scheduled for September 2026 in Poland. Group A at the CONCACAF tournament features host Costa Rica, the U.S., Puerto Rico and Guyana. The top two from each group advance to the semifinals, securing World Cup qualification in the process. With six points at 2-0-0, Canada and Mexico cannot be caught by Panama or Nicaragua, both pointless at 0-2-0, with one game remaining. The young Canadians play defending champion Mexico on Monday to decide the Group B winner. Canada has taken part in nine of the previous 11 editions of the FIFA U-20 tournament, missing out in 2010 and 2018. The Canadians lost 2-1 to Spain in the round of 16 at last year's FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia. Canada had to survive a first-half red card and penalty in dispatching Nicaragua (0-2-0). Outshot Nicaragua 30-7 Despite being a player down for 80-plus minutes, Canada outshot Nicaragua 30-7 (4-4 in shots on target), had 67.7 per cent possession and a 14-0 edge in corners. Teegan Melenhorst, Anabelle Chukwu and Liana Tarasco scored for Canada (2-0-0), which also profited from a Nicaragua own goal. Chukwu, who scored twice in Canada's opening 7-1 Group B win over Panama, added to her Canadian youth international scoring record, previously held by Christine Sinclair. Chukwu now has 37 goals in 39 games from the under-15 to under-20 level. The 18-year-old from Ottawa, who plays collegiate soccer at Notre Dame, has been called into camp by the Canadian senior side but has yet to win a cap. Captain Jenifer Sarantes scored for Nicaragua (0-2-0). Nicaragua was blanked 6-0 by defending champion Mexico in its opener. Canada's Nourani receives red card Canada was reduced to 10 women in the 10th minute when Trinidad and Tobago referee Crystal Sobers showed Ines Nourani, judged to be the last defender, a red card for bodying Daniela Manzaneres to the ground on a Nicaragua counterattack after an errant pass off a Canada short corner. Canada coach Cindy Tye sent on defender Victoria Rocci for midfielder Juliette Perreault after the red card. Canada went ahead in the 23rd minute on an own goal. Chukwu got her head on a Canadian corner with Adriana Munguia's attempted headed clearance going straight back and beating Nicaragua 'keeper Greta Genie, who plays for Belmont University in Nashville. Canadian goalkeeper Noelle Henning wiped out Manzaneres in the 32nd minute going for a high ball in the penalty box, prompting a lengthy discussion with the video assistant referee. Sobers went to the pitchside monitor, to check for a potential offside before the collision, and then pointed to the penalty spot. Sarantes beat a diving Henning, who was yellow-carded on the play, to tie it at 1-1 in the 37th minute. But two goals in first-half stoppage time restored Canada's lead. Melenhorst's left-footed shot from the edge of the box beat a diving Genie before Chukwu evaded two defenders and sent a low shot into the far corner of the goal. Tarasco made it 4-1 in the 85th minute, knocking the ball home after a pinball-like sequence in front of the goal off a Canadian corner. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Canada outshot Nicaragua 15-3 in the first half, although the Central Americans had a 3-2 edge in shots on target. Canada had 70 per cent possession and had eight corners to Nicaragua's none in the first 45 minutes. Canada, with a height advantage, threatened on almost every set piece but could not convert. Tye made five changes to her starting lineup. Nicaragua started 14-year-old attacker Maxie Teofilo, who plays her club soccer with the Seattle United. Canada booked its ticket to the CONCACAF tournament by winning its qualifying group with ease in February. The Canadians outscored their qualifying opposition 43-0, dispatching Dominica 22-0, Bermuda 9-0 and host Trinidad and Tobago 12-0. The U.S. and Mexico, as the top-ranked countries in CONCACAF, skipped the qualifying round and were given direct entry to the CONCACAF championship. Canada and 23 other teams had to win their way there, with Costa Rica, Guyana, Nicaragua, Panama and Puerto Rico also topping their groups. Canada won the CONCACAF tournament in 2004 and 2008 and was runner-up to the U.S. in 2002, when the age group was under-19. The Americans are looking for their eighth title, having last won in 2020 and 2022.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Official: Italy U20 learn opponents in World Cup group stage
Argentina, Australia and Cuba will be Italy's opponents in the U20 World Cup group stage. The group stage draw for the U20 World Cup took place in Santiago (Chile) on Thursday, 29 May. Italy were in Pot 1 with host country Chile, USA, Korea Republic, Brazil and Colombia. Advertisement Twenty-four teams will compete in the tournament, which will be held from September 27 to October 19. U20 Italy opponents in 2025 World Cup BOLOGNA, ITALY – MAY 24: Lorenzo Venturino of Genoa scores his team's third goal past Federico Ravaglia of Bologna (obscured) during the Serie A match between Bologna and Genoa at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on May 24, 2025 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by) The Azzurrini, coached by Bernardo Corradi, were drawn into Group D alongside Argentina, Australia, and Cuba. The top two teams from each of the six groups will advance to the Round of 16, as well as the four best third-placed teams. There are four venues for the U20 World Cup games: Santiago (Estadio Nacional), Valparaíso (Estadio Elías Figueroa), Rancagua (Estadio El Teniente) and Talca (Estadio Fiscal). Cesare Casadei of Italy celebrates after scoring the 1-0 goal during the FIFA U-20 World Cup semifinal soccer match between Italy and South Korea, in La Plata, Argentina, 8 June 2023. EPA-EFE/Juan Ignacio Roncoroni Italy reached the Final in the previous U20 World Cup, played in 2023, and saw their talent, Cesare Casadei, become the best scorer and the Best Player in the tournament. Advertisement As reported by Gazzetta, Italy U20 coach Corradi will test his squad in two friendlies against Paraguay in Fermo on June 6 and 9. The players making the Italy U20 squad include Como defender Fellipe Jack, as well as Genoa's Jeff Ekhator and Lorenzo Venturino. The latter scored a brace in the last game of the season against Bologna.
The Citizen
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Mahlangu receives heroic welcome from Vaal community
EVATON.- Thabang Mahlangu received a heroic welcome from the Evaton North (Ward 19) community after returning from Egypt. This SuperSport United young defender was part of the Amajita team that made history when they were crowned the 2025 African Cup of Nations Champions in Egypt over the weekend. The Amajita team arrived in the country on Tuesday, and the Evaton North community surprised this youngster when they gathered at the Evaton North BP Filling Station to give him a hearty welcome. There was a traffic jam for a few hours as young and old, especially the football community, took to the streets as they chanted Mahlangu's name. This former SAFA Sedibeng Hollywood Regionals League Vaal Juventus FC defender represented South Africa with distinction. Amajita was crowned the AFCON champions and qualified for the U20 World Cup, with Chile as the hosting nation. Speaking to Sedibeng Ster Sport, Dipopo Lenkoe, who initiated this (the welcome), said it was fitting to give Mahlangu a warm welcome back. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
eNCA
21-05-2025
- Sport
- eNCA
No incentives for Amajita but SAFA pledges support for World Cup
JOHANNESBURG - There are no incentives for Amajita after their U20 Afcon triumph in Egypt. The SA U20 side won just over R3.6 million after lifting the title against Morocco. Safa president Danny Jordaan says with the upcoming U20 World Cup in Chile, the federation will give full support to coach Raymond Mdaka and his charges. He downplayed the organisation's financial health, saying the organisation has never failed to cover the basic costs for national teams.
