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)