The U.S. U-20 Men's World Cup dreams were dashed as Morocco emerged victorious, ending their quarterfinal run with a final score of 3-1. This marks the end of the road for the United States in the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in Chile. But what exactly happened during this decisive match? Let's dive in.
The game, which took place on Sunday night, saw the United States initially level the score at 1-1 before halftime, thanks to a penalty kick expertly converted by Borussia Dortmund winger Cole Campbell. However, Morocco proved too strong, netting two more goals in the second half to secure their spot in the semifinals. They are now set to face either France or Norway on October 15th.
Despite this setback, the U.S. team had a promising start to the tournament, dominating Group E and even achieving a remarkable 3-0 win against France. They continued their impressive form by defeating Italy with the same scoreline in the Round of 16.
Here's a fact that might surprise you: The U.S. has now been eliminated in the quarterfinals of the FIFA U-20 World Cup for five consecutive tournaments, dating back to 2015.
This year's squad featured a strong presence of Major League Soccer (MLS) talent, with 16 MLS players representing the U.S. team. The captain of the squad was Benjamin Cremaschi, an Inter Miami CF homegrown midfielder, who also managed to score an impressive five goals during the tournament. Currently, Cremaschi is on loan to Parma, an Italian Serie A side.
Here's a breakdown of the goals scored during the match:
- 31' - MOR: Fouad Zahouani
- 45+6' - USA: Cole Campbell (Penalty Kick)
- 67' - MOR: Joshua Wydner (Own Goal)
- 87' - MOR: Gessime Yassine
What are your thoughts on the U.S. team's performance? Do you think the quarterfinal curse will ever be broken? Share your opinions in the comments below!
