The USA Under-20 national team will look to finish top of Group B at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup when they take on Slovakia in their final group-stage match at the Estadio San Juan Bicentenario in San Juan, Argentina.
The USA are already through to the Round of 16, but winning the group with a win or draw against Slovakia could ensure what on paper would be a less formidable opponent in the Round of 16.
Slovakia can also finish first with a win against the Americans, and Ecuador are also in the mix, playing last-place Fiji in a game kicking off at the same time. Here are the Round of 16 pairings depending on where each team in Group B finishes:
- 1st Group B: vs. 3rd Group A/C/D (currently Uzbekistan, Israel, Italy)
- 2nd Group B: vs. 2nd Group F (currently S. Korea)
- 3rd Group B: vs. 1st Group C/D (currently Colombia/Nigeria)
Goal difference is the first group tiebreaker should teams finish level on points, and that’s followed by total goals scored should teams finish level on both points and goal difference. FIFA has outlined the full list of tiebreakers.
Sporting News is following USA vs. Slovakia live and providing score updates, commentary, and highlights as they happen.
MORE: All the updated FIFA U20 World Cup group standings
Live U20 World Cup Group B standings
- Friday, May 26: USA vs. Slovakia (2 p.m. ET)
- Friday, May 26: Ecuador vs. Fiji (2 p.m. ET)
| Team | PTS | GP | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. USA-Q | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 |
| 2. Slovakia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 |
| 3. Ecuador | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 4. Fiji | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | -7 |
- Q = Qualified to Round of 16
- E = Eliminated
USA vs Slovakia live score
| 1st Half | Goal scorers | |
| USA | — | — |
| Slovakia | — | — |
Lineups:
USA (5-3-2, right to left): 1-Slonina (GK) — 17-Che, 2-Halliday, 5-Craig, 4-Wynder, 3-Wiley — 6-Edelman, 16-Wolff, 18-Vargas — 9-Cowell, 10-Luna.
Slovakia (4-3-3, right to left): 12-Hrdina (GK) — 19-Kopasek, 3-Bagin, 6-Kosa, 18-Sikula — 8-Gajdos, 17-Snajder, 14-Szolgai — 15-Marcelli, 10-Jambor, 16-L. Sauer.
USA vs Slovakia live updates, highlights from FIFA U20 World Cup
1 hour to KO: Lineup is out for the USA.
You Ready? 👀🍿
Your #U20MYNT starting XI vs. 🇸🇰 pic.twitter.com/cfPkOb743y
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) May 26, 2023
1 hour, 15 mins to KO: The U.S. Under-20 women’s team is also in action later today in the CONCACAF Under-20 championship:
Double the action! 📺
Watch the #U20MYNT vs. 🇸🇰 at 2 pm ET and then the #U20WYNT vs. 🇵🇦 at 6pm ET on @FOXSports 2! pic.twitter.com/TXMoiUmAT0
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) May 26, 2023
2 hours to KO: The USA Under-20s may be top of their group, but they’re good at other non-soccer things, too.
Talent show coming soon… 🎭#U20MYNT pic.twitter.com/pX7VkGq0Tk
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) May 25, 2023
USA vs Slovakia lineups
With the U.S. already assured of a knockout stage place and a Round of 16 match looming in four days (if the USA finishes in first place), U.S. head coach Mikey Varas could consider rotating players in this match, especially Jonathan Gomez and Brandan Craig who have both played the full 180 minutes so far.
Three U.S. players also have earned a yellow card through the first two matches and would be suspended with another. So that could mean that Jack McGlynn, Diego Luna, and Josh Wynder all sit out against Slovakia. The yellow card slate is wiped clean after the quarterfinals.
Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg) and Rokas Pukstas (Hajduk Split) are both set to join the team in the knockout stages. The likes of Paxten Aaronson (Eintracht Frankfurt) and Jalen Neal (LA Galaxy) were not released by their clubs to play in the tournament.
USA starting lineup (5-3-2, right to left): 1-Gaga Slonina (GK) — 17-Justin Che, 2-Michael Halliday, 5-Brandan Craig, 4-Joshua Wynder, 3-Caleb Wiley — 6-Daniel Edelman, 16-Owen Wolff, 18-Obed Vargas — 9-Cade Cowell, 10-Diego Luna.
USA subs (8): 21-Alex Borto (GK), 12-Antonio Carrera (GK), 13-Jonathan Gomez, 14-Marcus Ferkranus, 15-Niko Tsakiris, 8-Jack McGlynn, 19-Darren Yapi, 7-Quinn Sullivan
Slovakia head coach Albert Rusnak (father of Seattle Sounders player with the same name) has started nearly the same starting lineup in each of the first two matches bar one change (Nino Marcelli over winger Adam Gazi for the second match). Rusnak also has four players who are one yellow card away from suspension (Samuel Bagin, Samuel Kopasek, Dominik Snajder, and Mario Sauer).
Of Slovakia’s 21 rostered players, 18 play in the local Slovakian league. The three who play overseas are Adam Griger (Cagliari Under-19s on loan from Austria’s LASK), Jan Murgas (with Austria second-division side Admira Wacker), and Leo Sauer (Feyenoord’s Under-21 team in the Netherlands).
Slovakia projected starting lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 12-Adam Hrdina (GK) — 18-Nicolas Sikula, 3-Samuel Bagin, 6-Sebastian Kosa, 19-Samuel Kopasek — 8-Artur Gajdos, 17-Dominik Snajder, 14-Mate Szolgai — 15-Nino Marcelli, 10-Timotej Jambor, 16-Leo Sauer.
Slovakia subs (10): 1-Samuel Belanik (GK), 21-Adam Danko (GK), 2-Simon Micuda, 5-David Ovsonka, 13-Marek Ujlaky, 4-Jan Murgas, 7-Balint Csoka, 20-Mario Sauer, 11-Adam Gazi, 9-Adam Griger
MORE: FIFA U20 World Cup Round of 16 schedule
USA vs Slovakia live stream, TV channel
- Date: Friday, May 26, 2023
- Time: 2 p.m. ET
- TV channels: FS2 (English), Universo (Spanish)
- Streaming: Fubo, Fox Sports GO, FoxSports.com, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, Universo NOW
The USA vs Slovakia match will be televised by FS2 (English) and Universo (Spanish) with both channels streaming on Fubo, which offers a free trial for new users.
There is also a stream available on both broadcasters’ streaming platforms (site & app) for authenticated subscribers to cable, satellite or telco packages: Fox Sports GO, FoxSports.com, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, and Universo NOW.
For those located outside the USA, the broadcaster carrying the match depends on the region. For countries without a designated broadcast rightsholder, the match can be found on FIFA+, which is FIFA’s official streaming platform.
