U.S. Under-20 Men’s Youth National Team Qualifies for 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup Following Hard-Fought 1-0 Win Over Guatemala in Concacaf U-20 Quarterfinals

LEÓN, Mexico (July 30, 2024) – A 49th-minute goal from Ruben Ramos Jr. and 90th-minute penalty save from goalkeeper Adam Beaudry was all the U.S. Under-20 Men’s Youth National Team needed to claim a 1-0 win against Guatemala in the 2024 Concacaf U-20 Championship Quarterfinal at Estadio León on Tuesday. With the win, the USA clinches a spot in the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile and also advances to the semifinals of the 2024 Concacaf U-20 Championship against either Canada or Panama on Friday, August 2 at Estadio León.

Following a scoreless first half, the USA’s game-winning goal came in the 49th minute. After a long cross rolled to the feet of Ramos, he took a touch and curled the ball inside the upper right corner of the net to make it 1-0.

Guatemala’s best chance came in the 87th minute after defender Rudy Muñoz drew a foul in the penalty area. Looking to send the match to extra time, Olger Escobar stepped to the spot and fired his penalty low and to the left, but Beaudry expertly got down to his right to make the stop, preserving the shutout and all-important win to clinch World Cup qualification.

The U.S. will now await the winner of the Canada-Panama quarterfinal to be played later Tuesday night in León. The Concacaf U-20 Championship semifinal will be played on Friday, August 2 at 5:06 p.m. ET (FOX Soccer Plus, VIX).

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN

USA – Ruben Ramos Jr. (Sergio Oregel), 49th minute: Midfielder Sergio Oregel sent a cross from the right sideline toward Taha Habroune at the top of the box. The ball went over Harbroune and took a bounce toward forward Ruben Ramos Jr., who chested the ball down and took a touch before winding up and curling a shot from the top of the box inside the far-right post. USA 1, GUA 0 FINAL

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

• The U.S. has qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup for the 18th time overall, and sixth consecutive tournament.
• The USA notched its ninth-straight clean sheet in Concacaf U-20 Championship play. The U.S. currently has a clean sheet streak of 831 minutes. The last goal conceded was an own goal in the 69th minute of the USA’s 2-2 draw with Canada on June 20, 2022.
• The USA is now 8W-3L-4D vs. Guatemala at the Concacaf U-20 Championship.
• This is the third straight tournament the USA has reached the semifinals when there is a semifinal round (2013, 2022, 2024).
• This is the sixth-straight match the U.S. has won when it had the opportunity to clinch World Cup qualification.
• Goalkeeper Adam Beaudry tallied his third clean sheet of the tournament.

-U.S. UNDER-20 MEN’S YOUTH NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-

Match: U.S. Under-20 Men’s Youth National Team vs. Guatemala
Date: July 30, 2024
Competition: Concacaf U-20 Championship – Quarterfinals
Venue: Estadio León; León, Mexico
Kickoff: 3:06 p.m. local (5:06 p.m. ET)
Weather: 82 and sunny

Lineups:
USA: 12-Adam Beaudry; 15-Luca Bombino, 3-Nolan Norris (c), 4-Noah Cobb, 2-Aiden Harangi; 8-Brooklyn Raines (19-Sergio Oregel, 46), 6-Pedro Soma, 14-Taha Habroune (13-Cruz Medina), 74); 20-Ruben Ramos Jr. (18-Zavier Gozo, 74), 10-Niko Tsakiris (7-Nimfasha Berchimas, 60), 9-Marcos Zambrano (17-Keyrol Figueroa, 46)
Substitutes not used: 1-Julian Eyestone, 5-Stuart Hawkins, 11-David Vazquez, 16-Ethan Kohler, 21-Duran Ferree
Head coach: Michael Nsien

GUA: 1-Fausto Delgado; 11-Rudy Muñoz, 15-Carlos Aguilar, 16-Gary Perez, Diego Cuque; 5-Arian Recinos (c) (2-Christopher Maldonado, 53), 6-Decarlo Guerra (14-Ariel Lon, 79), 7-Matthew Evans, 13-Selvin Sagastume (18-Justin Racanoj, 64); 10-Olgar Escobar, 19-Daniel Mendez (20-Marvin Avila, 53)
Substitutes not used: 12-Diego Bolaños, 3-Gabriel Cabrera, 4-Hector Prillwitz, 8-Anthony Recinos, 9-Axel De La Cruz, 20-Marvin Avila, 21-Alvaro Medrano
Head coach: Marvin Cabrera

Stats Summary: USA / GUA
Shots: 10 / 11
Shots on Goal: 4 / 1
Saves: 1 / 3
Corner Kicks: 6 / 2
Fouls: 24 / 13
Offside: 2 / 0

Misconduct Summary:
GUA – Arián Recinos (caution) 23rd minute
GUA – Carlos Aguilar (caution) 29
USA – Brooklyn Raines (caution) 39
USA – Sergio Oregel (caution) 79
USA – Aiden Harangi (caution) 85
USA – Rudy Muñoz (caution) 90+
GUA - Anthony Recinos (ejection) 90+6

Officials:
Referee: Fernando Hernandez (MEX)
Assistant Referee 1: Jonathan Gomez (MEX)
Assistant Referee 2: Jessica Morales (MEX)
Fourth Official: Jefferson Escobar (HON)
VAR: Oscar Macias (MEX)
AVAR1: Jesus Montero (CRC)