The 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup kicks off in Brazil, with 24 countries vying to be named champions. The United States earned a spot in the tournament by finishing runners-up at the 2019 CONCACAF U-17 Championship. Raphaël Wicky’s side was drawn into a stacked Group D, with Senegal, AFC champions Japan, and UEFA champions the Netherlands (as found in the Group D Preview).
It’s an uphill climb for a talented U.S. side, but youth international tournaments frequently have unexpected results as countries are missing their best players.