U20 Women's World Cup 2024: Outstanding performances and renewed rivalry

The first test is over for the United States U20 Women's National Team and they passed with flying colors. The group they were in may not have been as difficult as a group of death, but playing openly against the defending champions is no easy task. Not only did we watch the team get through the group without too much drama, but we also saw some of the young stars put in breakthrough performances and further build their future prospects for the senior national team.

Dazzling defenders

Until the scoring explosion in the group final against Paraguay, the USA played defensively throughout the group stage. After conceding an early goal against Spain in the first game, the USWNT U20 players closed things down and shut down all opponents, even Spain. Despite that goal, the defending champions only managed seven shots, four of which were on target. That was by far Spain's lowest total during the entire group stage, while it was the highest total the USA has allowed to an opponent to date.

Two big reasons for the strong defense are defenders Gisele Thompson and Jordyn Bugg. It should come as no surprise to anyone who has followed the sport how well Gisele has performed at this World Cup. The standout defender has already made it to the doorstep of the senior team after previously training with them in camp, but she seems to have taken her game to the next level. What really stood out for Thompson at this tournament was twofold. She was much more confident in attack. She no longer seems to rely solely on her raw skill and speed, but seemed much more precise and purposeful in terms of where and how she moves. She creates space for herself, but also space for others. In the win over Paraguay, she even managed to put the ball in the net for the first time at a World Cup. On top of that, she was much more willing to throw herself into challenges, not recklessly, but unafraid to get in and do the dirty work as a defender.

Speaking of dirty work, that brings us to a player many of you may not know: defender Jordyn Bugg. To say that the 18-year-old broke out at this tournament is almost a massive understatement. Signing with NWSL team Seattle Reign less than a month ago, the defender has been a real force in the USA's defense throughout the group stage, playing a full 90 minutes in every game so far. She's a defender who is determined to get through and physically challenge attackers, but is incredibly smart about where and when she does her work. Given the way she plays, it should come as no surprise who her mentor has been: none other than the best defender in the world right now, Naomi Girma. In a recent interview with the official media of the US national team, Bugg credits her time training with the San Diego Waves, especially training under Naomi Girma in 2023. NWSL fans should remember the name now, because it won't be long before everyone is wondering how Seattle was able to get such a bargain on young Jordyn Bugg.

Take the momentum

In our first Future Stars article, we talked about midfielder Emeri Adames, who had one of the coolest moments in NWSL history when she scored on the night of her hero's retirement and performed her iconic celebration in front of Megan Rapinoe. It was an incredible moment and a great introduction to the NWSL for the young midfielder. Well, it seems like Adames has carried that momentum into the World Cup after putting on a record-breaking performance up to that point. After putting on some really solid performances in the first two games, Adames really turned it on in the team's big win over Paraguay to close out the group stage. Adames set the U.S. record for most assists in a single U-20 World Cup game. After assisting on three of the first four goals for the U.S., Adames tied a record held by USWNT legend Heather O'Reilly. O'Reilly also holds the record for most assists overall in the tournament with seven. This is something to watch out for, as Emeri and Co. want to continue their journey tonight with a win in the round of 16.

Honorable Mention

Although the aforementioned players have been consistent in the first few games of the tournament, we can't pass up a hat trick without handing out flowers. As you know by now, the win against Paraguay was a big deal, and pretty much everyone was there to celebrate, especially striker Pietra Tordin. After scoring two quick goals in the first 15 minutes, Tordin secured her hat trick in the 67th minute, placing her alongside the likes of Savannah DeMelo and Sydney Leroux. This makes her the fifth player for the USA to score a hat trick at a FIFA World Cup at the U20 level. It was definitely a breakout game for Tordin, who will need more of the same to get the team past rivals Mexico in the Round of 16.

Next game: Mexico

The Round of 16 will get exciting very quickly for the USA as they prepare to face their rivals Mexico. Their Concacaf counterparts also enter this tournament with a lot to prove as they continue to herald a strong future for the Mexicans. However, a win tonight will not only give the USA even more bragging rights over their soccer neighbors, but could also show the world just how great the talent is here.