PAYING THE PENALTY: U.S. eliminated in shootout at U-20 Women’s World Cup quarterfinals

KATOWICE, Poland – The U.S. Under-20 women’s national team fell to Brazil in a penalty kick shootout in the Round of 16 match at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

After playing to a 1-1 draw in regulation and a 30-minute extra time, the Americans lost in the tie-breaker, 5-4.

The difference was Brazilian goalkeeper Thais Lima saving forward Emeri Adames’ first attempt for the USA.

This was the fourth time in 12 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup appearances that the U.S. has been eliminated in penalty kicks, and the fifth time the USA has fallen in a shootout — 2006 in the semifinals and again in the third-place match, 2010 in the quarterfinals, 2014 in the quarterfinals and 2026 in the Round of 16.

Ainsley McCammon was the only change U.S. head coach Vicky Jepson made from the Starting XI that routed New Zealand, 9-0, on Sept. 12 to finish group play. McCammon was inserted back into the midfield after she had recovered from a minor injury that ruled her out of the final group stage match. The Seattle Reign FC midfielder played an excellent match and smashed home an equalizer from outside the penalty area in the 63rd minute after Brazili had taken the lead off a corner kick in the 59th. McCammon’s shot took a wicked deflection off a Brazilian defender and stuck into the left side of the net.

The match was fairly even overall with Brazilian going direct for all 120 minutes, while the young Americans mixed up long balls with counter attacks and some solid build up through the midfield.

Forward Alex Buck failed to convert a breakaway chance late in the second half and midfielder Linda Ullmark had a golden chance to win it on a counterattack in the 111th minute but pushed her shot wide left of the goal with only the goalkeeper to beat.

The U.S. defense was stellar in dealing with Brazil’s steady diet of long balls. The Brazilians put only two shots on target in the match — and the USA had a 1.54 expected goals to Brazil’s 0.94, but in a World Cup knockout match where the margins are super slim, the young Americans were not efficient enough in the final third.

In the 23rd minute, outside back Hope Munson sent in a pinpoint cross from the right side that found Ullmark in the penalty box. She took the ball down, but her prep touch left the ball bouncing and Brazil’s Sofia Crouto swung at the ball at the same time, deflecting it up and over the goal while catching Ullmark’s foot in the process.

Through the final 15 minutes of the first half Brazil and the U.S. split the attacking opportunities more evenly, and Brazil came out on the front foot in the beginning of the second half, creating several chances that could have led to an opening goal.

In the 47th minute, defender Ella Bard blocked a dangerous chance off a Brazilian corner kick, sliding in front of Brendha’s shot. Brendha attempted another shot over the top in the 49th minute, kicking off a period where Brazil earned numerous set-piece chances through the first 10 minutes of the half that were ultimately defended well by the USA.

The U.S. then conceded in the 59th minute. Off a short corner kick, the in-swinging cross from the left corner found the head of Sofia who sent it off the right post and into the bottom right corner of the goal.

The Americans had an equalizing opportunity in the 61st when the sprinting Buck was taken down just outside the Brazilian penalty area, but Adames sent her direct kick over the net.

In the 63rd minute, McCammon equalized with her well-struck shot from distance.

The U.S. saw another opportunity go wanting in the 80th minute. Munson won the ball in a hard tackle and crossed from the corner to Sealey Strawn on the near post who shot on the volley, but Lima made the block. Buck shot the rebound off the right post and Lima was ultimately able to corral it. Buck had another chance in the 83rd when she shook two defenders to race into the penalty area, but she lost control of the ball amongst a scrambling set of defenders before she could get her shot off.

A solo effort from Adames took her past three Brazilian defenders in the 107th minute and earned a corner for the U.S., and then another, but the USA could convert neither.