Earlier this week, FIFA released the official squad lists for this year’s Under-20 Women’s World Cup, which is hosted by Colombia and kicks off on August 31st.
Here is a Google Sheets version of the squad lists, which is converted from the original PDF file (FIFA.com). (Update, 30-Aug-2024: Brazil, Colombia, and Japan have each replaced a player. See the “Notes” page of the spreadsheet for more details.)
Of the 24 teams in this year’s tournament, the United States Under-20 Women’s Youth National Team is the 4th oldest, based on median age, and the 2nd tallest team, based on median height. Only the Netherlands has a higher median height.
Out of 504 total players, 71 are based in the United States, with 47 currently playing for NCAA Division I teams. In all, 14 teams have at least one USA-based player.
Eleven of the US-based players are full professionals who compete in the NWSL: In addition to the 8 USA players, the other NWSL pros are forward Amanda Allen of the Orlando Pride, forward Milly Clegg of Racing Louisville, and midfielder Manaka Matsukubo of the North Carolina Courage, who play for Canada, New Zealand, and Japan, respectively.
For the complete tables of comparative age and height statistics, keep reading…
Comparative Summary Statistics
Reference List: Teams with FIFA 3-Letter Codes
- Argentina — ARG (Group F)
- Australia — AUS (Group A)
- Austria — AUT (Group E)
- Brazil — BRA (Group B)
- Cameroon — CMR (Group A)
- Canada — CAN (Group B)
- Colombia — COL (Group A)
- Costa Rica — CRC (Group F)
- Fiji — FIJ (Group B)
- France — FRA (Group B)
- Germany — GER (Group D)
- Ghana — GHA (Group E)
- Japan — JPN (Group E)
- Korea DPR — PRK (Group F)
- Korea Republic — KOR (Group D)
- Mexico — MEX (Group A)
- Morocco — MAR (Group C)
- Netherlands — NED (Group F)
- New Zealand — NZL (Group E)
- Nigeria — NGA (Group D)
- Paraguay — PAR (Group C)
- Spain — ESP (Group C)
- USA — USA (Group C)
- Venezuela — VEN (Group D)
Age is based on the first day of the tournament, August 31st.
Table 1: Comparative Age Statistics for Each Team
Team Median Average High Low Rank
ARG 18.68 18.78 20.55 16.30 24
AUS 18.96 19.08 20.62 16.89 19
AUT 19.61 19.38 20.63 17.43 8
BRA 19.61* 19.56* 20.59 17.28 7
CAN 19.08 18.99 20.38 17.56 15
CMR 19.10 18.93 20.42 16.65 13
COL 19.03* 18.94* 20.34 17.43 17
CRC 18.89 18.76 20.59 15.92 20
ESP 19.66 19.63 20.65 17.72 6
FIJ 18.76 18.60 20.61 15.88 22
FRA 19.92 19.73 20.60 17.68 2
GER 19.54 19.56 20.56 17.76 9
GHA 18.79 18.97 20.67 17.34 21
JPN 19.91* 19.62* 20.53 18.07 3
KOR 19.74 19.57 20.61 17.80 5
MAR 19.28 19.07 20.53 16.66 12
MEX 19.07 19.04 20.62 17.11 16
NED 19.10 19.05 20.64 17.43 14
NGA 18.75 18.83 20.21 16.69 23
NZL 19.36 19.32 20.57 18.05 10
PAR 19.32 19.17 20.61 16.60 11
PRK 20.25 19.96 20.66 17.66 1
USA 19.78 19.49* 20.53 17.74* 4
VEN 18.99 18.75 20.51 15.93 18
*Asterisks indicate that the numbers have changed due to the replacement of players and/or corrections in the official squad lists PDF document.
For ranking by median height, teams with equal medians are then sorted by average height. Heights are in centimeters (2.54 cm = 1 inch). Here are some useful conversions:
- 150 cm = 5’0″
- 160 cm = 5’3″
- 170 cm = 5’7″
- 178 cm = 5’10”
- 183 cm = 6’0″
Table 2: Comparative Height Statistics for Each Team
Team Median Average High Low Rank
ARG 164 165.5 177 152 20
AUS 168 168.2 183 154 6
AUT 169 168.2 180 156 3
BRA 169 167.7* 176 159 5
CAN 168 167.4 180 160 9
CMR 168 168.3 180 160 6
COL 164 165.0 180 153 21
CRC 160 161.3 175 155 24
ESP 167 168.0 186 154 10
FIJ 166 166.5 174 158 12
FRA 165 166.5 176 160 15
GER 169 168.1 177 155 4
GHA 166 166.4 175 159 13
JPN 161 163.6* 177 155 22
KOR 165 164.9 178 150 18
MAR 165 165.4 179 153 16
MEX 168 167.9 186 152 8
NED 172 172.0 181 163 1
NGA 165 164.0 175 156 19
NZL 165 167.1 178 155 14
PAR 160 161.5 174 154 23
PRK 165 165.0 179 155 17
USA 170 170.2 180 160 2
VEN 167 166.7 178 156 11
*Asterisks indicate that the numbers have changed due to the replacement of players and/or corrections in the official squad lists PDF document.
Comparing the USA to other Group C teams
For the USA’s roster, see “Roster Announced for the 2024 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup”.
Age and Birth Years
Summary:
- USA: median is 19.78, average is 19.49; 12 born in 2004, 4 born in 2005, 5 born in 2006
- Spain: median is 19.66, average is 19.63; 10 born in 2004, 10 born in 2005, 1 born in 2006
- Morocco: median is 19.28, average is 19.07; 8 born in 2004, 7 born in 2005, 3 born in 2006, 2 born in 2007, 1 born in 2008
- Paraguay: median is 19.32, average is 19.17; 7 born in 2004, 8 born in 2005, 4 born in 2006, 2 born in 2008
Although the USA has a higher median age, Spain has a larger concentration of older players, with 20 of 21 born in 2004 or 2005, compared to 16 of 21 for the USA.
Meanwhile, Morocco and Paraguay have majorities of younger players, with only 8 and 7 players born in 2004, respectively. Both teams have 6 players born in 2006 or later, including at least two players who were born in 2008.
Heights
Summary:
- USA: median is 170 cm (5’7″), average is 170.2 cm (5’7″)
- Spain: median is 167 cm (5’6″), average is 168.0 cm (5’6″)
- Morocco: median is 165 cm (5’5″), average is 165.4 cm (5’5″)
- Paraguay: median height is 160 cm (5’3″), average is 161.5 cm (5’3.5″)
The USA has 15 players who are 5’6″ or taller, compared to 11 for Spain, 9 for Morocco, and just 5 for Paraguay.
Spain has two players over 6-feet tall: Goalkeeper Eunate Astralaga and midfielder Marina Artero, who are each listed at 6’1″ (186 cm). Both are taller than the USA’s tallest player, forward Jordynn Dudley, who is officially 5’11” (180 cm).
Morocco has the widest range of heights, ranging from 153 cm (5’0″) to 170 cm (5’10”).
Notables
NWSL Representation: Eight of the current fourteen NWSL teams have players competing in this U-20 WWC, with three of those teams being represented by a pair of players.
The eight NWSL teams and their players are:
- Angel City FC: Gisele Thompson (USA)
- Bay FC: Savy King (USA)
- Kansas City Current: Claire Hutton (USA)
- North Carolina Courage: Riley Jackson (USA), Manaka Matsukubo (JPN)
- Orlando Pride: Amanda Allen (CAN), Ally Lemos (USA)
- Racing Louisville: Milly Clegg (NZL)
- Seattle Reign: Emeria Adames (USA), Jordyn Bugg (USA)
- Utah Royals: Ally Sentnor (USA)
Superlatives
Individuals
Tallest players: In addition to Spain’s two 6’1″ players, goalkeeper Eunate Astralaga and midfielder Marina Artero, one other player is also listed as 6’1″, goalkeeper Mariangela Medina of Mexico, who is a freshman at UCLA.
Shortest players: Defender Choi Eunhyyoung of the Korea Republic is the shortest rostered player, at 4’11” (150 cm). The next two shortest players are midfielder Alejandra Lomeli of Mexico and defender Juana Cangaro of Argentina, who are both 5’0″ (152 cm).
Youngest player: Thirteen players were born in 2008. The youngest is goalkeeper Aliana Vakaloloma of Fiji (born October 13, 2008), who is based in Washington State and plays for the Spokane Shadow.
Oldest player: Ghana’s Abiba Issah was born on the cut-off date for this tournament, January 1, 2004.
Teams
Oldest Team: Korea DPR is the only team with a median age over 20 years, at 20.25 years. Of its 21 players, 16 were born in 2004, including 4 who are listed as being born in January 2004.
Youngest Team: Based on median age, Argentina is the youngest at 18.68 years, but Fiji has a lower average age, at 18.60 years.
Tallest Team: The Netherlands are the only team with a higher median height (172 cm) or average height (172.0 cm), compared to the USA (170 cm and 170.2 cm, respectively).
Shortest Team: Costa Rica and Paraguay are tied on the lowest median height (160 cm), but Costa Rica’s average is slightly lower (161.3 cm vs 161.5 cm).
Most Domestic-Based Teams: Four teams have all 21 players who are based domestically. Those teams are the USA, France, Netherlands, and Korea DPR.
Least Domestic-Based Team: Canada has the fewest number of domestics players, at only 3. Each of those three players are still in high school and are associated with Canada Soccer’s National Development Centres (Wikipedia).
Most USA-Based Players: Besides the US U-20 WYNT, which is 100% based in the United States, the next team with the most US-based players is Canada with 17 players, 16 of whom are on NCAA teams, while 1 is in the NWSL: Forward Amanda Allen, who plays for the Orlando Pride. Mexico actually has the fourth-most number of USA-based players, with just 5, as Venezuela has 8 players in the USA, including 5 NCAA players, 1 NAIA player, and 2 who are in youth clubs.
Clubs
Most Represented: New Zealand’s Wellington Phoenix FC has 9 players, including 6 who are currently on the roster page for its “A” team, which plays in Australia’s A-League. All of the Phoenix’s players are on the New Zealand squad.
Costa Rica’s roster is dominated by 3 clubs, which provide 16 of its 21 players: Alajuelense, 7 players; Sporting FC, 5 players, and Saprissa, 4 players.
Most Represented NCAA Teams: Florida State leads with 5. Four of those players are on the USA’s squad, with the fifth being Marianyela Jimenez of Venezuela (FSU profile). Notre Dame is second with 3 players, including the USA’s Leah Klenke, plus two Canadians: Clare Logan (ND profile) and Annabelle Chukwu (ND profile). Seven other NCAA teams are represented by 2 players.
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