'Why not try to win it?' - USYNT coach Gonzalo Segares scheming a deep run at the 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar

The draw for the 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup was held Sunday, and the U.S. was handed a relatively easy group. USYNT head coach Gonzalo Segares is confident that his team can go far into the tournament in Qatar.

The former Costa Rica international, who has been in charge of the US U17 team since 2021, is optimistic that his side can put up a strong showing, perhaps even doing better than their best finish at an U17 World Cup - fourth-place in 1999.

"We fully believe in our players that we can get pretty far and deep into the final stages," he told GOAL. "And why not try to to win it? Right. That's at the end of the day where you want to make sure that you come as well and try to compete."

Czechia appears to be the strongest opponents in Group I for the U.S., but Segares said that Burkina Faso are also a strong team - and had tested his squad in the 2023 U17 World Cup in Indonesia.

Though his team exited the 2023 edition in the Round of 16, Segares noted that they had lost to eventual champions Germany. And this time around, he has the confidence to go all the way.

When asked if the focus was on developing players or winning the tournament, Segares told GOAL: "You know, I think that you can do both, right? I think that you can be competitive and at the same time give everyone the right opportunity. Last time, you know, we lost vs the winners, the World Cup winners. And we had a great game versus Germany (losing 3-2)."

Segares has high ambitions for the U.S. in the tournament, but also sees the big-picture value of playing high-caliber competition on a global stage.

"You know, we're playing Burkina Faso again. We had them in Indonesia (in 2023). It wasn't easy. Believe me, that group, you know, it was not easy to get out and this is not going to be easy as well," he said. "I think that we have three very difficult opponents. But that's what it's about. It's about experiencing, games with versus opponents that are from different parts of the world that we're not used to playing against.

"And again, and for these boys to experience that and to get to play versus different cultures, versus different styles of football. Because at the end of the day, that's what's going to make them better."

Interestingly, the 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup will be held exclusively at the Aspire Academy in Doha from Nov. 3-27, with only the final scheduled to be held at the Khalifa International Stadium.

Segares has already called up a squad of 20 players for a training camp in Spain from June 2-10. He will hope to hone his charges ahead of what will be an important tournament later this year.