Benjamin Cremaschi USMNTGetty Images
Siddhant Lazar

‘This is not rarefied air’ - Alexi Lalas challenges U.S. to aim higher against Morocco at U20 World Cup after Italy victory

Former USMNT star Alexi Lalas has tempered expectations after the United States’ impressive 3-0 victory over Italy in the Round of 16 at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Lalas acknowledged the achievement but emphasized that American youth teams have reached similar stages before. The U.S. secured their fifth straight trip the quarterfinals.

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    'Something that's been done before'

    The FOX Sports analyst pointed out that reaching the Round of 16 and winning is something the U.S. U20 team have done multiple times.

    “This is not rarefied air,” Lalas said on his State of the Union podcast. “As a matter of fact, this is something that's been done before. And we talked about this with the full national team in that we have we've been there before." 

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  • 'We've been fooled before'

    Lalas cautioned against excessive optimism based solely on youth tournament results.

    "We've been fooled before by the promise and the allure of youth and 'Oh my gosh, this is a generation," he said. "Well play the game in front of you, which is all all they can do. It's been good so far. But now we're at a point where in the past we have faltered. So do something that hasn't been done before.”

  • Looking at history

    The USMNT’s highest finish was a fourth place finish at the 1989 iteration of the tournament, where they lost to Nigeria in extra-time.

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    Unchartered Territory?

    Should the U.S. win, they’ll face the winner of Norway vs France in the other bracket in their first semifinal since 1989.