The United States U-20 women's national team was eliminated from the U-20 Women’s World Cup in the round of 16 after losing to Brazil on penalties in Katowice, Poland. The match ended in a 1-1 draw after extra time, with Brazil goalkeeper Thaís Lima making a crucial save on Emeri Adames’s attempt to begin the shootout. Brazil eventually won the penalty shootout 5-4, marking another setback for U.S. youth teams, which have struggled in recent international tournaments. This result adds to a challenging stretch for U.S. youth national teams in both men’s and women’s programs. Since October, U.S. teams at the U-17 level—both boys and girls—have failed to win a knockout game at the World Cup, exiting in shootouts. The U-20 men’s team also fell in the quarterfinals of their World Cup in October 2025. Despite the U.S. winning the 2024 Olympic gold and two of the past three senior Women’s World Cups, the U-20 team last claimed the title in 2012. That squad included now-retired players like Crystal Dunn, Julie Ertz, and Sam Mewis. In Poland, the U.S. team had a difficult group stage, losing to Italy in their opening match and drawing 2-2 with Japan. A dominant 9-0 win over New Zealand allowed them to advance as one of the top third-place teams. Brazil, on the other hand, dominated their group, defeating Tanzania, Canada, and England by a combined score of 9-2. Brazil’s Sofia opened the scoring in the 59th minute, and Ainsley McCammon of the Seattle Reign equalized in the 63rd. Neither team could score in the extra time, leading to a tense penalty shootout where Brazil’s goalkeeper proved decisive. The tournament's timing has drawn criticism from former players and coaches, who argue that holding it in late September—outside of a traditional FIFA window—makes it difficult for club teams to release players. A group of current and former players, including Alex Morgan, Marta, and Crystal Dunn, signed an open letter urging FIFA to reconsider the scheduling. Emma Hayes, a former U.S. national team coach, expressed concerns about the long-term development of American players, noting that the U.S. federation has historically not prioritized youth competitions. The tournament concludes on September 27, with North Korea as the defending champions.