Erik Palmer-Brown and the U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team are one win away from advancing to the semifinals of the FIFA U-20 World cup for just the second time in the country’s history.
Standing in their way is an in-form Venezuela side, whom the U.S. will face in Sunday’s quarterfinal matchup at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, Korea Republic. The match will be televised live at 1 a.m. CT on FS2 and Telemundo En Vivo with further live updates available on Twitter at @ussoccer_ynt.
Palmer-Brown captained the U.S. to a first-place finish in Group F, collecting draws against Ecuador and Saudi Arabia on either side of a 1-0 victory over Senegal. The U.S. then buried New Zealand 6-0 in Thursday’s Round of 16 to make their second straight appearance in the U-20 World Cup quarterfinals, having fallen at this stage of the tournament in 2015 to eventual champion Serbia.
A native of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Palmer-Brown has played all 360 minutes of the tournament in central defense. Should the U.S. prevail against Venezuela on Sunday, the Americans will have reached the semifinals for the first time since 1989, when they recorded their best all-time finish of fourth place.
Sunday’s opposition has been one of the most impressive sides in the competition, as Venezuela has recorded four straight shutout wins en route to the quarterfinals. La Vinotinto defeated Germany (2-0), Vanuatu (7-0) and Mexico (1-0) in the group stage before ousting Japan 1-0 on a 108th-minute winner from Yangel Herrera in the Round of 16.
The winner between the U.S. and Venezuela will advance to the semifinals against either Portugal or Uruguay. The opposite site of the bracket pits Italy versus Zambia and Mexico versus England.
2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup Quarterfinal Pairings:
Sunday, 1 a.m. CT: Venezuela vs. USA; Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju
Sunday, 4 a.m. CT: Portugal vs. Uruguay; Daejeon World Cup Stadium, Daejeon
Monday, 3 a.m. CT: Italy vs. Zambia; Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon
Monday, 6 a.m. CT: Mexico vs. England; Cheonan Sports Complex, Cheonan
Sunday’s showdown will take place just four hours after the same two countries’ senior teams meet in an international friendly at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. That match—potentially involving Sporting Kansas City defender Graham Zusi—will kick off at 9 p.m. CT tonight on FS1.
U.S. U-20 MNT Roster by Position (Club; Hometown)
GOALKEEPERS (3): Jonathan Klinsmann (University of California; Newport Beach, Calif.), J.T. Marcinkowski (Georgetown; Alamo, Calif.), Brady Scott (De Anza Force; Petaluma, Calif.)
DEFENDERS (7): Danny Acosta (Real Salt Lake; Salt Lake City, Utah), Cameron Carter-Vickers (Tottenham Hotspur FC; Westcliff-on-Sea, England), Justen Glad (Real Salt Lake; Tucson, Ariz.), Aaron Herrera (University of New Mexico; Las Cruces, N.M.), Erik Palmer-Brown (Sporting Kansas City; Lee's Summit, Mo.), Tommy Redding (Orlando City SC; Oviedo, Fla.), Auston Trusty (Philadelphia Union; Media, Pa.)
MIDFIELDERS (5): Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls; Wappingers Falls, N.Y.), Luca de la Torre (Fulham FC; San Diego, Calif.), Derrick Jones (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.), Eryk Williamson (University of Maryland; Alexandria, Va.), Gedion Zelalem (Arsenal FC; Bethesda, Md.)
FORWARDS (6): Jeremy Ebobisse (Portland Timbers; Bethesda, Md.), Lagos Kunga (Atlanta United FC Academy; Tucker, Ga.) Brooks Lennon (Real Salt Lake; Paradise Valley, Ariz.), Emmanuel Sabbi (Unattached; Columbus, Ohio), Josh Sargent (St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri; O'Fallon, Mo.), Sebastian Saucedo (Real Salt Lake; Park City, Utah)
Gedion Zelalem was forced out of the tournament due to an injury suffered in the opening match against Ecuador
