U20s Learn World Cup Draw

Germany, Cameroon, and Korea on Tap for USA

April 6, 2009

CHICAGO – The U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team has been drawn into Group C alongside Germany, Cameroon and Korea Republic for the 2009 Under-20 World Cup in Egypt, which will take place from Sept. 24-Oct. 16.

The U.S. will open against Germany on Sept. 26 at 4 p.m. local time (10 a.m. ET), before facing Cameroon on Sept. 29 at 6:45 p.m. local time (12:45 p.m. ET) and rounding out group play against Korea Republic on Oct. 2 at 6:45 p.m. local time (12:45 p.m. ET).

“We have definitely been drawn into a strong group, perhaps the strongest of the tournament, but that poses a great opportunity,” said U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team head coach Thomas Rongen. “Anytime you have the chance to play against teams like Germany, Cameroon and Korea Republic, it is a chance to showcase American football.”

The field of 24 teams is broken up into six groups of four teams each, with the top two finishers in each group, plus the four best third-place finishers, advancing to the Round of 16.

Germany, the reigning European champion, opened its continental campaign with a surprising 2-1 win against Spain before dismantling Bulgaria and Hungary to seal their place in Egypt. A semifinal victory against hosts Czech Republic sent the Germans to the final, where they defeated Italy 2-1 to seal their first-ever European championship at this level.

Korea Republic will be looking to advance out of the group after struggling to get to the Round of 16 as of late. The 11-time qualifiers went all the way to the semifinals of the U-20 World Cup in 1983, but have not advanced past the group stage since reaching the quarterfinals in 1991.

Cameroon, which fell to Ghana in the final of the African Youth Championship to finish in second place, will be appearing in their fifth FIFA U-20 World Cup and their first since 1999.

“It’s going to be a challenge for sure, but we had the same mentality heading into the 2007 World Cup,” said U.S. goalkeeper Brian Perk, who also played in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup. “We didn’t have too much pressure on us in that tournament because of the difficult draw and I think we’re in a similar situation this time. It’s definitely a tough group, but I’m excited and I think my teammates will be as well.”

The U.S. will be competing in its seventh-consecutive and 12th overall FIFA U-20 World Cup, previously known as the FIFA World Youth Championship. They will be looking to build upon a successful campaign under Rongen in 2007, where the Americans took the top place in what was widely considered to be the tournament’s “group of death” that included Brazil, Poland and Korea Republic before falling in overtime in the quarterfinals to Austria.

Out of the 11 appearances in the FIFA U-20 World Cup, the USA’s best finish came during the tournament in 1989 in Saudi Arabia. With goalkeeper Kasey Keller leading the way, the U.S. advanced to the semifinals and finished in fourth place.

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