Five Bruins to Compete in FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup

Five Bruins will compete in the 2022 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup, which takes place Aug. 10-28 in Costa Rica. Representing the US will be defender Lilly Reale and goalkeeper Neeku Purcell. Freshmen America Frias and Bridgette Marin-Valencia will play for Mexico, and representing Canada is forward Kaila Novak.

The US won the Concacaf Women’s U-20 Championship in March, beating Mexico 2-0 in the final. Reale started five matches and scored one goal, while Purcell recorded four shutouts, including both in the semifinals and finals. Reale and Purcell have seven and six U-20 caps, respectively.

Frias, a forward, and Marin-Valencia, a midfielder, played with Mexico at the Sud Ladies Cup in June, helping the team earn the Bronze medal. In the first game of the tournament, Frias scored the game-winner in stoppage time in a 1-0 win over the Netherlands.

Canada finished in third place at the Concacaf Championship to earn its spot in the World Cup. The Canadians finished the tournament with a 6-1 record, outscoring opponents 32-1. Novak played in all seven games and scored three goals, including two against the Cayman Islands, with one assist.

The US will play in Group D, with matches scheduled for Aug. 11 vs. Ghana, Aug. 14 vs. Netherlands and Aug. 17 vs. Japan.

Mexico plays in Group B and will compete on the first day of the tournament, on Aug. 10 against New Zealand. Other group stage matches will take place on Aug. 13 against Colombia and Aug. 16 against Germany.

Canada was drawn into Group C and will face Korea Republic on Aug. 11, France on Aug. 14 and Nigeria on Aug. 17. The quarterfinals will take place Aug. 20 and 21, and the semifinals will contest on Aug. 25. The third place and Championship matches take place on Aug. 28.

Matches throughout the tournament will air live on FS1, FS2 and FOX Soccer Plus.

FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Schedule (US, Mexico, Canada)

Group Play

August 10 – 1pm PT – New Zealand vs. Mexico (Fox Soccer Plus)
August 11 – 10am PT – Ghana vs. USA (FS2)
August 11 – 7pm PT – Canada vs. Korean Republic (FS1)
August 1 – 4pm PT – Mexico vs. Colombia (Fox Soccer Plus)
August 2 – 4pm PT – USA vs. Netherlands (FS1)
August 2 – 7pm PT – France vs. Canada (FS2)
August 4 – 4pm PT – Mexico vs. Germany (FS1)
August 5 – 4pm PT – USA vs. Japan (FS2)
August 5 – 7pm PT – Nigeria vs. Canada (FS2)

Quarterfinals

August 20 – 3:30pm PT – Quarterfinal 1 (FS2)
August 8 – 7pm PT – Quarterfinal 2 (FS1)
August 21 – 3:30pm PT – Quarterfinal 3 (FS2)
August 10 – 7pm PT – Quarterfinal 4 (FS1)

Semifinals

August 25 – 3:30pm PT – Semifinal 1 (FS1)
August 25 – 7pm PT – Semifinal 2 (FS1)

3rd Place Match

August 28 – 3:30pm PT (FS2)

Final

August 28 – 7pm PT (FS1)