US Under-20 Team Shatters Records with Impressive 9-1 Victory at World Cup
United States Dominates New Caledonia in Record-Breaking U20 World Cup Opener
Stunning Victory in Chile Marks New US Record
The United States U20 men’s national soccer team kicked off its 2025 FIFA World Cup journey in Chile with an overwhelming victory. The team showcased an exceptional performance with a 9-1 triumph over New Caledonia, establishing a new benchmark for the largest win margin in the U.S. team’s U20 World Cup history.
Benjamin Cremaschi Shines in Historic Match
This commanding win was primarily driven by Benjamin Cremaschi, a midfielder for Parma currently on loan from Inter Miami CF. Cremaschi delivered an unforgettable first-half performance at Estadio Teniente de Rancagua, scoring three goals and providing two assists. His hat trick made him only the third player from the United States to achieve such a feat at the FIFA U20 World Cup.
United States Goal Scorers
The offensive display was a team effort, with contributions from several players:
- Benjamin Cremaschi
- Niko Taskiris
- Frankie Westfield
- Nolan Norris
- Taha Habroune
- Cole Campbell
New Caledonia’s Memorable Moment
Despite the dominant victory for the United States, the match also held significance for New Caledonia. In the second half, Wapae Simane capitalized on a mistake from U.S. goalkeeper Adam Beaudry to score New Caledonia’s first-ever goal in a U20 World Cup. This moment went down in history for the debutant nation, underscoring the global nature of the tournament.
Breaking Historic Records
The United States’ 9-1 win didn’t just set their personal record for goals in a U20 World Cup game but also shattered the previous victory margin record, which was six goals. This previous record was notably achieved in matches against Turkey (1993), Poland (2007), and New Zealand (2017).
While this match was extraordinary for the United States, the record for the largest win in FIFA U20 World Cup history is still held by Norway, who defeated Honduras 12-0 in 2019, with Erling Haaland famously scoring nine goals.
Other Group E Highlights
In the other Group E encounter, France grabbed a narrow 2-1 win against South Africa, setting the stage for a competitive group stage in this year’s tournament.
