Gaga Slonina in goal, Paxten Aaronson's absence and what to watch as the USMNT Under-20s kick-off the World Cup

It was a winding road to get there, from a FIFA logistics point of view, but the players that will represent the United States Under-20 men's national team have arrived in Argentina for the U20 World Cup. Well, at least most of them.

Head coach Mike Varas has brought a talented squad to Argentina, albeit one with a few notable absences due to club commitments. The U.S., though, is a team loaded with potential future stars, several of whom have already made their senior national team debuts.

Still, though, the U.S. will be shorthanded for the group stage, with a few key players remaining with their clubs to finish off the European season before arriving at the tournament. Before they arrive, the U.S. will have to navigate a group that includes Ecuador, Slovakia and Fiji, a group they'll be expected to emerge from when all is said and done.

The U.S. has made deep runs in the last few tournaments, with their win over France in the 2019 U20 World Cup serving as a program highlight. Can they do so again this summer?

GOAL look at some of the key players and storylines that will determine the U.S. team's fate over the next few weeks:

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