The United States was eliminated in the round of 16 at the 2026 U20 Women‘s World Cup on Wednesday after falling to Brazil, 5-4 in a shootout. The teams played to a 1-1 draw through 120 minutes.
The result leaves the United States without a U20 Women’s World Cup title since 2012 (this being the sixth edition of the tournament since) and underscores senior U.S. women’s national team head coach Emma Hayes’ concerns about the country’s player development pipeline.
Brazil poured on pressure to start the second half and opened the scoring in the 59th minute when Sofia got her head on a cross from Clarinha after Brazil’s short corner. Sofia redirected the ball to the back post to beat United States goalkeeper Caroline Birkel.
The United States equalized four minutes later when Ainsley McCammon’s shot from outside the penalty area took a slight deflection to beat Brazil goalkeeper Thaís Lima.
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Forward Alex Buck nearly gave the U.S. the lead in the 80th minute when her shot on a rebound hit off the post. U.S. midfielder Linda Ullmark had the best opportunity in extra time for either team when she got in behind Brazil’s defense in the 111th minute, but Ullmark pushed her right-footed shot wide of the far post.
Brazil put only two shots on goal through 120 minutes. The United States dominated long stretches of the match but failed to convert on their opportunities.
Emeri Adames had her shot saved in the first penalty of the shootout before all nine subsequent takers converted their opportunities.
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The Americans had only advanced to the round of 16 as a third-place team in the 24-team tournament. They defeated New Zealand 9-0 in their final group game after opening the tournament with a shocking loss to Italy, who had not previously won a U20 Women’s World Cup match, and then drawing Japan, 2-2.
Two years ago, the U.S. finished in third place, its best finish since triumphing in 2012 for the third time at the U20 level. That 2024 team included midfielder Claire Hutton and defender Jordyn Bugg, both of whom are still eligible for the U20 World Cup but remained with their NWSL clubs. U.S.
U20 head coach Vicky Jepson called the absence of several top players “upsetting” upon naming her roster in August.
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The 2026 U20 Women’s World Cup does not take place in a FIFA international window, meaning clubs are not obliged to release players to their national teams.
A group of current and former players including Alex Morgan, Crystal Dunn, Marta, and several U20 players — including Hutton and U20 captain Kennedy Fuller, who was released for the tournament recently signed a letter to FIFA urging the world governing body to schedule U20 World Cups during international windows to “help ensure that the world’s emerging players can participate.”
Eight of 21 players on the United States roster are professionals, including Fuller, Ullmark and Adames.
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Wednesday’s round of 16 exit is the second-worst for the U.S. in the event behind back-to-back group-stage exits in 2018 and 2022, when only two teams from each group advanced. It won the competition in 2002, 2008 and 2012.
Hayes told ESPN last month that she views the U20 World Cup as “the biggest platform for young players” to get ready for the senior level. The U.S., she said, continues to fall behind in developing players around that age.
“When I speak about this subject, I am sending a warning sign that I am worried,” Hayes told ESPN in August. “I am massively worried about the direction for and the lack of all of those experiences for American players.”
