The U.S. Under-20 men’s youth national team will face off with Costa Rica in the Concacaf U-20 Championship quarterfinals for a spot in the Under-20 World Cup on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET (FS2 and TUDN).

After winning Group E and defeating Nicaragua, 5-0, in the Round of 16, the USA will continue the knockout stage against Los Ticos, aiming for one of four tickets to the U-20 World Cup in Indonesia and a spot in the tournament semifinals, which will qualify two teams to the 2024 Olympics.

Costa Rica finished second in Group H and downed Trinidad & Tobago, 4-1, in the Round of 16 to reach the quarterfinals.

The U.S. is 5-3-4 all-time vs. Costa Rica at the Concacaf U-20 Championship.

The teams last met in the 2018 tournament during the qualification group stage as the USA topped Los Ticos 4-0. Golden Ball winner Alex Mendez scored the opening goal.

This year marks Costa Rica’s 21st appearance at the Concacaf U-20 Championship. The Central American nation has won the confederation crown twice, in 1988 and 2009.

Los Ticos have qualified nine times for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, including four of the last seven tournaments. The nine appearances are good for third-most in Concacaf behind the USA and Mexico.

U.S. roster

GOALKEEPERS (2): Christopher Brady (Chicago Fire FC; Naperville, Ill.; 4/0), Antonio Carrera (FC Dallas; Frisco, Texas; 1/0)

DEFENDERS (6): Noah Allen (Inter Miami CF; Miramar, Fla.; 3/0), Brandan Craig (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.; 3/0), Mauricio Cuevas (Club Brugge/BEL; Los Angeles, Calif.; 5/1), Marcus Ferkranus (LA Galaxy; Santa Clarita, Calif.; 4/0), Michael Halliday (Orlando City SC; Apopka, Fla.; 4/0), Jalen Neal (LA Galaxy; Lakewood, Calif.; 6/1)

MIDFIELDERS (9): Paxten Aaronson (Philadelphia Union; Medford, N.J.; 7/3), Alejandro Alvarado Jr. (FC Vizela/POR; Los Angeles, Calif.; 3/0), Caden Clark (New York Red Bulls; Wayzata, Minn.; 7/2), Daniel Edelman (New York Red Bulls; Warren, N.J.; 5/0), Jackson Hopkins (D.C. United; Fredericksburg, Va.; 1/0), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake; Sunnyvale, Calif.; 7/2), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union; Middle Village, N.Y.; 7/1), Rokas Pukstas (Hajduk Split/CRO; Sillwater, Okla.; 6/1), Niko Tsakiris (San Jose Earthquakes; Saratoga, Calif.; 2/2)

FORWARDS (3): Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes; Ceres, Calif.; 6/2), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.; 6/6), Tyler Wolff (Atlanta United FC; Braselton, Ga.; 5/1)

 

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Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.