United States women's national under-20 soccer team

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United States women's national under-20 soccer team

Overview
The United States women’s national under-20 team is a youth soccer team run by U.S. Soccer. Its main goal is to develop players for the senior U.S. Women’s National Team. The team competes in big events like the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and the CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship, plus other regional contests and friendlies.

History (short version)
- The program began in 1998 as an under-18 team. It later shifted to under-19 and then under-20 to fit FIFA’s age groups.
- The U-20 team has a strong history of success:
- FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup champions in 2002, 2008, and 2012.
- They have won the CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship seven times: 2006, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2020, and 2022.
- The team has also earned runner-up finishes in some years, including 2004, 2008, 2018, and 2023.
- In 2020, the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup was canceled due to COVID-19.
- The program has continued to compete at a high level, with successful runs in CONCACAF and appearances at recent World Cups, including a third-place finish at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia.
- As of 2025, multiple coaching changes have led to new leadership, with Vicky Jepson named head coach in 2025.

Competitive record (highlights)
- FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup: Three-time champions (2002, 2008, 2012). The team has had various results in other editions, with deep runs in several tournaments and occasional group-stage exits in recent years.
- CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship: Champions seven times (2006, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2020, 2022). They have also finished as runners-up in other years.
- Pan American Games: The U-20 team has competed in the Pan American Games, with notable appearances tied to the event’s scheduling and format.

Coaches (notable recent leaders)
- The program has had many coaches over the years. Notable names include Shannon Higgins-Cirovski, Jay Hoffman, Steve Swanson, Tracey Leone, Mark Krikorian, Tim Schulz, Tony DiCicco, Jill Ellis, Michelle French, Jitka Klimková, Mark Carr, Laura Harvey, Tracey Kevins, and, starting in 2025, Vicky Jepson.
- Current leadership (as of 2025): Vicky Jepson is the head coach, having taken over the program in 2025 after a period with Tracey Kevins as head coach.

Current squad (overview)
- The team regularly selects players from United States colleges and professional clubs. As of late 2025, a 20-player training camp roster was announced for upcoming friendlies and games, featuring a mix of college players and professionals from across the United States.

Notes on progression to the senior team
- Many players who have shined at the U-20 level have moved on to become regulars for the senior United States Women’s National Team, contributing to the country’s success on the world stage.

In summary
The United States U-20 women’s team is a successful and influential part of the U.S. national team system. It serves as a key bridge between youth and the senior national team, regularly competing at the world level and producing players who go on to reach the highest levels of women’s soccer.