Noah Cobb becomes the 10th different American scorer at the 2025 U-20 World Cup
The U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team fell 2-1 to South Africa on Sunday in its final Group E match at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup, but still clinched first place in the group thanks to a strong +10 goal differential. With the result, the U.S. advances to the Round of 16, where it will face Italy on Thursday, October 9 at 3:30 p.m. ET in Rancagua.
Defender Noah Cobb opened the scoring in the 11th minute, heading home a cross from Matthew Corcoran. The goal made Cobb the 10th different U.S. player to score in the tournament — a new record for the U.S. U-20s.
South Africa responded just six minutes later when a cross deflected off Josh Wynder and into the U.S. net for an own goal. In first-half stoppage time, Gomolemo Kekana finished off a counterattack to give South Africa a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish.
The Americans controlled much of the second half, creating several dangerous chances through Benjamin Cremaschi and Marcos Zambrano, but South African goalkeeper Fletcher Smythe-Lowe produced multiple key saves to preserve the result.
Despite the loss, the U.S. finished group play with six points (2W-1L-0D), edging South Africa and France on goal difference. This marks the sixth time the U.S. U-20s have topped their group at a FIFA World Cup (2003, 2005, 2007, 2017, 2023, and 2025).
