Summary
The Argentine Football Association (AFA), led by Claudio Tapia, has been tasked with selecting the stadiums that will be used for the tournament. The AFA recently revealed the proposed venues, which are distributed throughout the country, including some in less-visited regions. The tournament is scheduled to begin on May 20, 2023, and will run until June 11. The final match will be played at the Estadio Único de La Plata, which is one of the proposed venues. The other stadiums are located in Santiago del Estero, San Juan, Salta, Chaco, and San Luis.
Why is it being held in Argentina?
Argentina was chosen as the host country after FIFA withdrew the tournament from Indonesia, which had initially been selected to host the event. Argentina offered to host the tournament in case Indonesia was unable to do so. While the Argentine national team failed to qualify for the tournament after being eliminated in the first round of the qualifying tournament, they will participate in the U-20 World Cup as hosts.
Who is going to play?
The tournament will feature 24 teams from around the world, including the United States, France, Italy, Brazil, and Nigeria. While FIFA has not yet confirmed the official details of the tournament, the dates and locations are scheduled to remain unchanged for now. As the U-20 World Cup approaches, fans around the world eagerly await the exciting matches and impressive performances that are sure to take place.
The participating countries
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United States
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Argentina
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Guatemala
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Honduras
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Dominican Republic
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Fiji
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New Zealand
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England
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France
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Israel
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Italy
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Slovakia
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Brazil
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Colombia
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Uruguay
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Ecuador
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South Korea
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Iraq
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Japan
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Uzbekistan
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Gambia
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Nigeria
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Senegal
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Tunisia
A homeowner with a history
There is no doubt that Argentina is the most successful nation in the history of the FIFA U-20 World Cup, having won six championships in 1979, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2005, and 2007. Additionally, the youth team has participated in a total of 16 editions of the tournament, starting in 1979 and winning the first one. Success has also come in the South American U-20 championships, with five titles in 1967, 1997, 1999, 2003, and 2015. But that's not all, Argentina has also won two gold medals at the South American Games in 1982 and 1986, as well as in minor tournaments such as the Alcudia International U-20 Football Tournament, where they have been champions in 2012, 2018, and 2022.
The top scorers of the youth team are two true geniuses of Argentine football: Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi, both with 14 goals. On the other hand, the player with the most games played in the team is the talented Pablo Aimar, who has participated in 21 occasions. And if we talk about the most successful coaches of the youth team, the name of José Néstor Pékerman is the first that comes to mind, with three World Cups and two South American championships in his career.
