What should fans expect in 2027 and 2030 World Cup?
In this episode we analyze Spain’s win over Argentina, and look ahead to the next women’s and men’s world cup.
United States U-20 women’s national team manager Vicky Jepson will take a blend of players who already are professional and those playing top-level college soccer to the U-20 Women’s World Cup.
Eight players currently on NWSL rosters are part of the squad, along with 13 players who are currently on college teams.
“This group wears the crest with honor, and we’re excited to see what they can accomplish together,” Jepson said in a news release. “They all have tremendous pride in earning this opportunity to represent their country on the world’s biggest stage for their age group.
“We really want to thank the NWSL clubs and the colleges for their collaboration in releasing their players for this tournament as it will be a once-in-a-lifetime chance for many of them and we know it will be an invaluable growth experience for these young women on their soccer journeys.”
Houston Dash midfielder Linda Ullmark has played the most professional minutes this season of the eight players called, with two goals and three assists in 19 starts.
Bay FC midfielder Kennedy Fuller, a 19-year-old from Texas who has played 1,382 NWSL minutes this season and Seattle Reign midfielder Ainsley McCammon, who has played 1,165 minutes over 16 matches in the 2026 campaign, also have been regulars for their clubs. Two of McCammon’s Reign teammates, goalkeeper Evan O’Steen and forward Emeri Adames made the 21-player roster as well.
“We all have seen the massive growth of the women’s game over the last decade, and the U-20 Women’s World Cup is a prime example of that,” Jepson said. “More and more players at this age level are in professional environments, the competition is elite and this tournament is a true proving ground for players who aspire to play for their senior national teams.
“I know all our players are excited to face the challenges this World Cup will present in every match.”
Adames and goalkeeper Caroline Birkel were part of the previous U-20 Women’s World Cup, helping the Americans to a third-place finish in Colombia.
O’Steen is one of a quartet of players who were part of last year’s U-17 World Cup and slot directly into the next age group tournament. Defender Pearl Cecil, midfielder Nyanya Touray and forward Micayla Johnson are the other players who played in that tournament, at which the U.S. was eliminated on penalties in the round of 16.
The U-20 level has become increasingly important in women’s soccer, as FIFA begins to conduct a U-17 World Cup every year but the older age group a more likely source of players for U.S. senior women’s national team manager Emma Hayes.
“I consider the Under-20 event the biggest platform for young players to play in,” Hayes told ESPN. “I keep thinking about so many of our players that, whether they miss the Under-17, how critical it is for them to come through the Under-20s.”
Yet, there remains some level of concern that the tournament may not happen. UEFA, the governing body for European soccer, has threatened to boycott FIFA tournaments after the global governing body’s president Gianni Infantino put forward a plan to allow private investment in the World Cup. Infantino withdrew that proposal, but UEFA has stated that the threat is still in place, even as some of its members say they are planning to participate in the competition.
The tournament is set to kick off in Poland, a UEFA member, on Sept. 5.
The U.S. starts its journey with a Sept. 6 match against Italy before contests against Japan and New Zealand.
Full USWNT U-20 Women’s World Cup squad:
2026 FIFA U.S. Under-20 Women’s World Cup Roster by Position (College or Club; Hometown; U-20 Caps/Goals)
Goalkeepers (3): Caroline Birkel (Stanford; St. Louis, Missouri.; 6), Evan O’Steen (Seattle Reign FC; Grapevine, Texas; 2), Kealey Titmuss (Penn State; Grand Blanc, Michigan; 5)
Defenders (7): Aven Alvarez (UNC; New Hill, North Carolina; 12/0), Ella Bard (Louisville; Wadsworth, Ohio; 6/0), Lizzie Boamah (Stanford; San Diego, California; 6/0), Pearl Cecil (Virginia; Encinitas, California; 2/0), Emma Johnson (Penn State; Greenfield, Indiana; 9/1), Hope Munson (UNC; Holladay, Utah; 6/0), Katie Scott (Kansas City Current; Fairview, Pennsylvania; 11/1)
Midfielders (6): Kennedy Fuller (Bay FC; Southlake, Texas; 8/2), Lily Joseph (Notre Dame; Hamden, Connecticut; 2/0), Ainsley McCammon (Seattle Reign FC; Bedford, Texas; 6/0), Y-Lan Nguyen (Stanford; Fairfax, Virginia; 5/0), Nyanya Touray (Florida State; Silver Spring, Maryland.; 4/0), Linda Ullmark (Houston Dash; Buffalo, New York; 7/6)
Forwards (5): Emeri Adames (Seattle Reign FC; Red Oak, Texas; 4/1), Alex Buck (Washington; Medina, Washington; 6/1), Micayla Johnson (Chicago Stars FC; Troy, Michigan 4/2), Audrey McKeen (Racing Louisville FC; Vienna, Virginia; 2/0), Sealey Strawn (UNC; Prosper, Texas; 2/0)
