LODZ, Poland (Sept. 6, 2026) – Handed the difficult task of opening the World Cup against a strong European opponent, the U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team fell, 2-1, to Italy in the first-ever meeting between the two sides.
The Americans created more danger in the attacking third on the night – hitting the woodwork twice – but it was Italy that was more efficient, capitalizing on several U.S. mistakes to earn its two goals.
The USA started a lineup featuring seven NWSL professionals – two of which combined for the opening goal – but the Italian side grew throughout the match to earn the win, scoring two scrappy goals to come from behind.
The USA got on the board first in the 18th minute after building out of the back. Central defender Lizzie Boamah dribbled down the left side before playing a pass to left wing Emeri Adames. The Seattle Reign forward beat her defender with a nutmeg, cut inside and played a square ball with pace across the face of goal. Italian goalkeeper Elena Belli got a finger on the ball, but it rolled to forward Micayla Johnson for a left-footed tap-in.
The goal was the third for the Chicago Stars striker at the U-20 level in just her fifth cap, and it marked the third FIFA youth World Cup over three consecutive years that Johnson has scored, having also tallied in the 2024 and 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cups. She is the first American player to achieve that feat. Johnson scored nine goals in 18 caps at the U-17 level.
Johnson and Adames connected again minutes later, nearly doubling the lead. Johnson made a central run and played a ball out wide to Adames, who created space from her defender with a step-over at the top of the box before blasting a left-footed shot that Belli pushed off the crossbar.
The Italian frontline misplayed several scoring opportunities in the first half, but it capitalized on a chance just before halftime to earn the equalizer. Midfielder Giada Pellegrino Cimo played a pass inside the box for forward Karen Appiah, whose first-time shot was saved by the foot of U.S. goalkeeper Caroline Birkel. The ball popped up in the air and Italy midfielder Paola Fadda was first to the rebound, tapping the ball under a sliding Boamah and across the goal line.
Pellegrino Cimo gave Italy its first lead of the night in the 59th minute with a goal similar to the USA’s opener. Italy played up the left wing and U.S. defender Ella Bard won possession of the ball, only for forward Giulia Galli to steal it back and race to the goal. She sent a cross into the box that Birkel got her hands on, but it slipped through, and Pellegrino Cimo was there to finish the tipped cross from close range, once again past a sliding Boamah.
After its second goal, Italy was content to sit back and counterattack, and found success with both tactics, filling the defensive third with players and challenging the USA to find a way through. The young Americans almost did.
The USA pushed to find an equalizer in the final half hour, primarily through substitute forwards Alex Buck and Sealey Strawn. In the 78th minute, Buck got on the end of a through ball from captain Kennedy Fuller, but Belli saved Buck’s shot from close range. Moments later, Strawn received the ball at the far post off a corner kick, but her shot sailed over the goal.
In the final minute of stoppage time, it seemed as if the Americans had leveled the match after Strawn finished a shot from Fuller that had bounced off the left post. However, a VAR check ruled her offside by mere inches.
The USA will continue its Group D journey on Sept. 9 back at the Stadion Miejski LKS against Japan (Noon ET on FS2, Peacock and Telemundo). Japan has finished no lower than fourth in its last five U-20 Women’s World Cup tournaments. The U.S. then will conclude the group stage on Sept. 12 vs. New Zealand in Sosnowiec.
The top two finishers in each of the six four-team groups will advance to the Round of 16, along with the four best third-place sides.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
USA – MICAYLA JOHNSON (EMERI ADAMES),18th minute: Forward Emeri Adames received the ball on the left flank and cut inside the box before playing a low cross in front of goal. Italian goalkeeper Elena Belli dove to get a touch on the ball, but it continued on its path to Johnson, who tapped in the cross with her left foot from close range. USA 1, ITA 0
ITA – PAOLA FADDA, 40th minute: Midfielder Giada Pellegrino Cimo made a central run with the ball before laying it off to forward Karen Appiah inside the box. Appiah took a shot with her first touch, but USA goalkeeper Caroline Birkel came out to deflect it with her left foot. The ball popped in the air, bounced off the back of defender Aven Alvarez and fell in front of Paola Fadda, who poked it over the goal line. USA 1, ITA 1
ITA – GIADA PELLEGRINO CIMO, 59th minute: Defender Azzurra Gallo played winger Giulia Galli down the left flank. U.S. defender Ella Bard intercepted the pass, but Galli won the ball back and continued her run at goal. She sent a cross inside the six-yard box and Birkel got her gloves on it, but the ball landed in front of Pellegrino Cimo, who finished from close range. USA 1, ITA 2 FINAL
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
Match: United States Under-20 Women’s National Team vs. Italy Under-20 Women’s National Team
Date: Sept. 6, 2026
Competition: 2026 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup – Group D
Venue: Stadion Miejski LKS Lodz; Lodz, Poland
Attendance: 267
Kickoff: 6 p.m. local (Noon ET)
Weather: 65 degrees, partly cloudy
| Scoring Summary | 1 | 2 | F |
| USA | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| ITA | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| USA – Micayla Johnson (Emeri Adames) | 18th minute |
| ITA – Paola Fadda | 40 |
| ITA – Giada Pellegrino Cimò | 59 |
Lineups:
USA: 1-Caroline Birkel; 13-Katie Scott (3-Emma Johnson, 46), 5-Lizzie Boamah, 4-Ella Bard, 2-Aven Alvarez; 8-Kennedy Fuller (Capt.), 6-Ainsley McCammon, 10-Linda Ullmark (18-Nyanya Touray, 72); 17-Micayla Johnson(20-Lily Joseph, 86), 7-Audrey McKeen (9-Alex Buck, 58), 11-Emeri Adames (19-Sealey Strawn, 72)
Substitutes not used: 12-Evan O'Steen, 14-Hope Munson, 15-Pearl Cecil, 16-Y-Lan Nguyen, 21-Kealey Titmuss
Head coach: Vicky Jepson
ITA: 1-Elena Belli; 13-Martina Tosello, 16-Martina Bressan, 4-Martina Cocino, 5-Azzurra Gallo (Capt.); 6-Maya Cherubini (20-Gabriella Langella, 79), 8-Paola Fadda (18-Giada Catena, 64), 14-Sofia Testa, 10-Giada Pellegrino Cimò (19-Manuela Sciabica, 79), 11-Karen Appiah (17-Marta Zamboni, 69); 7-Giulia Galli
Substitutes not used: 2-Lidia Consolini, 3-Caterina Venturelli, 9-Rosanna Ventriglia, 12-Lavinia Tornaghi, 15-Emma Lombardi, 21-Erica Di Nallo
Head coach: Nicola Matteucci
Stats Summary: USA / ITA
Shots: 11 / 14
Shots on Goal: 4 / 6
Saves: 4 / 3
Corner Kicks: 4 / 5
Fouls: 10 / 8
Offside: 1 / 2
| Misconduct Summary | |
| ITA – Karen Appiah (Caution) | 23rd minute |
| USA – Sealey Strawn (Caution) | 90 |
Officials:
Referee: Casey Reibelt (AUS)
AR1: Emma Kocbek (AUS)
AR2: Madelaine Allum (AUS)
Fourth Official: Dione Rissios (AUS)
VAR: Rodrigo Carvajal (CHI)
Asst. VAR: Ismael Cornejo (SLV)