PREVIEW: USA Takes on France for Top Spot in Group E at 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup

USA AIMS FOR FIRST IN GROUP E

After two victories to open up the 2023 FIFA Under-17 World Cup, the U.S. U-17 Men’s Youth National Team will face France for the top spot in Group E on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 7 a.m. ET (FS1, Telemundo). Both the USA and France have gained six points from its first two games and already qualified to the Round of 16. Saturday’s match will determine who finishes first and second in the group.

It's the second meeting between the U.S. and France at the U-17 World Cup. Les Bleus finished third at the last U-17 World Cup in 2019 and the nations previously clashed in the 2001 group stage, a 5-3 loss for the USA before France went on to take home the title in Trinidad and Tobago.

Fans can follow all of the action from Indonesia on ussoccer.com as well as U.S. Soccer Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Sunday, Nov. 12
France 3, Burkina Faso 0
USA 3, Korea Republic 1

Wednesday, Nov. 15
USA 2, Burkina Faso 1
France 1, Korea Republic 0

2023 FIFA U-17 WORLD CUP ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB; U-17 CAPS/GOAL; HOMETOWN)

GOALKEEPERS (3): Adam Beaudry (Colorado Rapids; 9/0; Castle Pines, Colo.), Zackory Campagnolo (Colorado Rapids; 1/0; Ft. Myers, Fla.), Duran Ferree (San Diego Loyal SC; 4/0; San Diego, Calif.)

DEFENDERS (6): Noahkai Banks (Augsburg/GER; 4/0; Dietmannsried, Germany), Tyler Hall (Inter Miami CF; 16/0; Miramar, Fla.), Aiden Harangi (Eintracht Frankfurt/GER; 11/1; Reston, Va.), Stuart Hawkins (Seattle Sounders FC; 18/0; Fox Island, Wash.), Tahir Reid-Brown (Orlando City SC; 1/0; Orlando, Florida), Oscar Verhoeven (San Jose Earthquakes; 18/0; Pleasant Hill, Calif.)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Matthew Corcoran (Birmingham Legion FC; 2/0; Dallas Texas), Taha Habroune (Columbus Crew; 11/4; Columbus, Ohio), Cruz Medina (San Jose Earthquakes; 19/7; San Francisco, Calif.), Peyton Miller (New England Revolution; 5/0; Unionville, Conn.), Santiago Morales (Inter Miami CF; 2/0; Weston, Fla.), Paulo Rudisill (Unattached; 20/2; Irvine, Calif.), Pedro Soma (UE Cornella/ESP; 18/1; Coconut Creek, Fla.)

FORWARDS (5): Nimfasha Berchimas (Charlotte FC; 6/4; High Point, N.C.), Micah Burton (Austin FC; 20/5; Mounds View, Minn.), Keyrol Figueroa (Liverpool/ENG; 12/8; Warrington, England), Bryce Jamison (Orange County SC; 6/0; Lake Forest, Calif.), David Vasquez (Philadelphia Union; 15/0; Los Angeles, Calif.)

KNOCKOUT STAGE CLINCHED VS. BURKINA FASO

Two goals at the end of the first half boosted the USA to a 2-1 win vs. Burkina Faso, its second-straight victory at the U-17 World Cup and a berth in the Round of 16.

Facing a relentless effort from Les Etalons, the U.S. finally broke through in the 45th minute as midfielder Paulo Rudisill teed up forward Keyrol Figueroa for his team-leading ninth goal of the cycle. Six minutes later, 15-year-old forward Nimfasha Berchimas netted his third goal of the tournament, rising to a tie for second place in the USA’s all-time scoring charts at the U-17 World Cup.

Burkina Faso stormed back in the second half and continued to challenge the U.S. with waves of pressure, finally breaking through in the 89th minute. The African nation hit the post in second-half stoppage time, but the U.S. finished the match with another three points and a ticket to the Round of 16.

FLYING START FOR FRANCE

France is also 2-0-0 following its first two matches at the U-17 World Cup, topping Burkina Faso 3-0 and Korea Republic 1-0 to advance to the knockout stage. In its first match, France faced a spirited effort from Burkina Faso before breaking through on a Mathis Lambourde goal in the 49th minute. Les Bleus earned two late penalties in the final ten minutes as Joan Tincres and Tidiam Gomis converted to give France an opening victory.

An early goal proved the difference against South Korea, as Mathis Amougou put France up 1-0 in the second minute. The European power then held strong down the stretch to secure its second-straight shutout. 

USA ROSTER NOTES

• CAUTION WATCH: Defenders Noahkai Banks and Aiden Harangi, midfielder Paulo Rudisill plus forwards Micah Burton and David Vazquez all picked up yellow cards vs. Korea Republic or Burkina Faso. Should any of them be shown a second caution against France, they will be suspended for the Round of 16.
• The USA has won its first two games at the U-17 World Cup for the fifth time, following strong starts in 1991, 2003, 2005 and 2017. The 1991 tournament was the only edition that the U.S. finished the group stage 3-0-0.
• With three goals, forward Nimfasha Berchimas is now tied for third all-time in goals for the U.S. at this tournament with Landon Donovan (1999), Mykell Bates (2007), Josh Sargent (2017) and Tim Weah (2017). Judah Cooks (1993) and Freddy Adu (2003), each scored four goals.
• Berchimas’ brace made him the fifth player to put together a multi-goal game for the USA at the U-17 World Cup following Cooks (three goals vs. Qatar in 1993), Taylor Twellman (two goals vs. Austria in 1997), Adu (three goals vs. Korea Republic in 2003) and Weah (three goals vs. Paraguay in 2017).
• Berchimas (15 years, 267 days) is the fourth-youngest player to score for the U.S. at this tournament, behind Adu (14 years, 76 days; three goals vs. Korea Republic in 2003), Imad Baba (15 years, 91 days; one goal vs. Brazil in1989) and Jason Moore (15 years, 148 days; one goal vs. Qatar in 1993).
• Berchmias is the 17th player to score in multiple games for the USA at the U-17 World Cup.
• The son of Honduras legend Maynor Figueroa, Keyrol Figueroa scored his first goal of the World Cup and cycle-leading ninth goal.
• Nineteen of the 21 players have appeared through the first two matches, with only goalkeepers Zackory Campagnolo and Duran Ferree yet to play in the tournament.
• Burton and Rudisill made their cycle-leading 20th appearances against Burkina Faso.
• Players born on or after Jan. 1, 2006 are age-eligible for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Segares called up 17 players born in 2006, four born in 2007 and one born in 2008.
• The roster features players from 17 clubs, including 10 from Major League Soccer. Two players each come from the Colorado Rapids, Inter Miami CF and the San Jose Earthquakes. Four are based abroad in Germany (two), England and Spain.
• Three players have appeared in nine of the 11 training camps since the cycle began: Burton, Tyler Hall and Cruz Medina.
• The USA clinched its record 18th FIFA U-17 World Cup berth with a runner-up finish at the 2023 Concacaf U-17 Championship. 
• Figueroa, who finished second at the tournament with seven goals, and Medina were named to the competition’s Best XI.
• Thirteen players from the team’s Concacaf U-17 Championship squad return for the World Cup: Adam Beaudry, Burton, Ferree, Figueroa, Hall, Aiden Harangi, Taha Habroune, Stuart Hawkins, Medina, Rudisill, Pedro Soma, Vazquez and Oscar Verhoeven. 
• The U.S. has faced 19 different nations since kicking off the cycle during the Youth National Teams’ return to programming in November 2021, compiling an 13-8-0 record.

USA VS. FRANCE

• The U.S. is 0-1-0 vs. France all-time at the U-17 World Cup. The nations met in the group stage at Trinidad and Tobago 2001, a 5-3 defeat. Future USMNT forward Eddie Johnson scored for the USA.
• France went on to win the 2001 tournament. Les Bleus also finished third at the last U-17 World Cup in 2019.
• This year marks the European power’s eighth appearance at the tournament and France has qualified to the knockout stage in all eight appearances.
• Overall, the U-17 MYNT is 5-11-3 vs. European competition at the U-17 World Cup.
• All 21 of France’s players are based domestically at 16 clubs, including 11 currently in Ligue 1. Three come from Valenciennes, plus two each from Monaco, Reims and Strasbourg.
• Head coach Jean-Luc Vannuchi played professionally for 14 years in France before launching his coaching career in 2005.

FRANCE – 2023 FIFA U-17 WORLD CUP ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB)

GOALKEEPERS (3): 1-Paul Argney (Le Havre), 16-Mathys Niflore (Toulouse), 21-Timothe Viel (Ajaccio)

DEFENDERS (7): 4-Bastien Meupiyou (Nantes), 13-Aymen Sadi (Valenciennes), 5-Joachim Kayi Sanda (Valenciennes), 3-Nhoa Sangui (Reims), 15-Arthur Tchaptchet (Reims), 2-Yvann Titi (Troyes), 12-Yoram Zague (Paris Saint-Germain)

MIDFIELDERS (5): 20-Mathis Amougou (Saint-Etienne), 8-Saimon Bouabre (Monaco), 10-Ismail Bouneb (Valenciennes), 6-Nolan Ferro (Strasbourg), 14-Fode Sylla (Lens)

FORWARDS (6): 18-Mohamed-Amine Bouchenna (Clermont Foot), 17-Tidiane Diallo (Strasbourg), 11-Tidiam Gomis (Caen), 7-Yanis Issoufou (Montpellier), 9-Mathis Lambourde (Rennes), 19-Joan Tincres (Monaco)

HOW THEY GOT HERE

• France finished runner-up at the 2023 UEFA European U-17 Championship to earn one of five World Cup berths at stake.
• Les Bleus earned their spot in the continental championship by topping Luxembourg, North Macedonia and Iceland in its first qualifying group and then beating Albania, Latvia and Switzerland in elite round qualifying.
• In the group stage at the European Championship, France beat Scotland, 3-1, fell to Germany, 3-1, and drew Portugal 1-1 to finish second and advance to the knockout stage.
• France topped England 1-0 on an 89th-minute penalty in the quarterfinals to punch its ticket to Indonesia.
• Les Bleus beat Spain 3-1 in the semis, scoring three goals in the final 17 minutes after going down 1-0.
• In the final, France played Germany to a 0-0 draw before falling 5-4 in penalties.
• Tidiam Gomis, Yanis Issoufou and Mathis Lambourde each scored three goals for France, tied for the team lead.

U.S. HISTORY AT THE U-17 WORLD CUP

The USA has qualified to a record 18 of 19 FIFA U-17 World Cups all-time and has reached the knockout stage at nine of 17 previous tournaments. Its best finish came at the 1999 tournament, a fourth-place showing in New Zealand led by a number of future USMNT stalwarts. Landon Donovan kicked off his legendary international career by winning the Golden Ball as the competition’s best player while future four-time senior World Cup selection DaMarcus Beasley also represented the U.S. After a 3-2 victory vs. Mexico in the quarters, the USA fell in penalties to Australia in the semifinals and lost 2-0 to Ghana in the third-place match.

The red, white and blue’s last knockout stage run came at the 2017 tournament, reaching the quarterfinals before falling to eventual champion England, 4-1. The U.S. opened the competition with a 3-0 win against host India in front of more than 46,000 fans. In the Round of 16 against Paraguay, Tim Weah netted a hat trick, becoming the first U.S. player to accomplish the feat in the knockout stage of a men’s World Cup.

SENIOR SQUAD LAUNCHPAD

A number of stars for the senior USMNT have launched their international careers at the FIFA U-17 World Cup and since the USA failed to qualify for the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup, the last three cycles have been markedly successful in progressing players to the senior USMNT. Twenty players from the previous three cycles have made their full team debuts, with 10 players from the USA’s 2022 FIFA World Cup roster having represented the U.S. at a U-17 World Cup: Kellyn Acosta (2011 U-17 WC), Tyler Adams (2015), Luca de la Torre (2015), Sergiño Dest (2017), Christian Pulisic (2015), Gio Reyna (2019), Josh Sargent (2017), Joe Scally (2019), Haji Wright (2015) and Tim Weah (2017).

In total, 59 players named to a U-17 World Cup roster have been capped by the senior USMNT, while 26 have been called to a senior World Cup. The competition has long been a launchpad for future USMNT stars. Landon Donovan, DaMarucus Beasley and current U.S. Soccer Vice President of Sporting Oguchi Onyewu helped the U.S. finish fourth at New Zealand 1999. Future 100-cap club members Claudio Reyna and Tim Howard represented the U.S. at Scotland 1989 and Ecuador 1995, respectively.

TAKING THE NEXT STEP WITH MLS NEXT PRO

Several members of the squad played key roles for their clubs during the recently completed second season of MLS Next Pro as nine players logged more than 1,100 minutes on the year. Forward Micah Burton helped Austin FC II lift the championship trophy, while midfielder Taha Habroune parlayed his standout performance in World Cup qualifying into a key role with runner-up Columbus Crew 2. Goalkeeper Adam Beaudry was one of four finalists for the league’s Goalkeeper of the Year award. In total, seven players made their pro debuts this season in the league designed to bridge the gap from the academy ranks to first-division Major League Soccer.

TOURNAMENT FORMAT

The 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup features 24 countries divided into six groups of four teams. The top two finishers in each group, as well as the four best third-place teams advance to the Round of 16. From there, the tournament will feature a knockout bracket to the tournament final.

All three of the USA’s group stage games are set for the 82,000-seat Jakarta International Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital city and the largest city in Southeast Asia. Bandung, Surabaya and Surakarta will also serve as host cities for the competition, all located on Indonesia’s largest and most populated island, Java.