The U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team is currently camped in Fayetteville, Georgia, where the players are fine-tuning their tactics ahead of a pivotal few weeks.
A Final Sprint Before Poland
From July 5 to July 16 the squad will play two high-profile friendlies, first against England’s U-20 side on July 9 and then versus Colombia on July 12. These matches serve as the last competitive dress rehearsal before the team is trimmed for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.
Head coach Vicky Jepson has assembled a 24-player roster that blends youth and experience. Eighteen of the athletes are still in college, while six are professionals, five of whom are plying their trade in the National Women’s Soccer League. The NWSL contingent includes standout defenders such as Zoe Mathews, who has spent time in Spain and Portugal, and midfielders Nyanya Touray and Pearl Cecil, both of whom have already tasted senior World Cup action.
Among the younger faces is 14-year-old Loradana Paletta, who will attend camp as a training player but will not be eligible for the upcoming friendlies. The camp also features goalkeepers Evan O’Steen and Kealey Titmuss, defenders Lizzie Boamah and Aven Alvarez, and forwards Micayla Johnson and Onyeka Gamero, each bringing a different set of credentials from previous international tournaments.
Four players — Touray, O’Steen, Cecil and Johnson — were born in 2008, underscoring the youthful core of the side. Three of the five NWSL representatives — O’Steen, Katie Scott and Johnson — were part of the U.S. squad at the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, and Stanford midfielder Y-Lan Nguyen also contributed to that campaign. Touray, who netted four goals in the 2025 U-17 tournament, and Johnson, whose strike against the Netherlands was called a “world-class” effort, are expected to be key offensive threats.
The team’s immediate competitive goal is the group stage of the Poland tournament, where the United States will open against Italy on September 6, face reigning champions Japan on September 9, and close the group against New Zealand on September 12. Their first two matches will be held at Stadion Miejski in Łódź, with the final group game at Arena Sosnowiec in Sosnowiec.
Beyond the upcoming friendlies, the camp is also a chance for players like Zoe Mathews, who has represented the senior national team, and veteran collegians from Stanford, UNC and Florida State to push for a spot on the final roster. With a mix of seasoned professionals and emerging talent, the U.S. staff believes they have the depth to compete strongly on the world stage.
As the camp wraps up, the focus will shift to the final selection meeting, after which the 21-player squad will travel to Poland with a clear mission: to make a deep run in the 2026 World Cup and showcase the growing strength of women’s soccer in the United States.