I'm talking relative to the level of any media exposure a U20 WC would get, which might be stronger in social media and not mainstream media.
Which is likely dependent on where teams are in the standings, and what priorities they are putting on those positions. Looking at the schedule, and assuming two week prior to the first match of the tournament, and would be Aug 24 as the departure date from clubs (and returning after the final of Sept 27). Thus, looking at Hutton, Bugg, Ascanio, Pfeiffer, Fuller, Barcenas, and Adames (players getting significant playing time), and I'm sure I'm missing a couple. Angel City: Fuller Bay FC: Hutton, Pfeiffer San Diego: Ascanio, Barcenas Seattle: Adames, Bugg Of those, San Diego (max 5 matches missed) is likely to be challenging for the title Both Bay FC (max 6 matches missed) and Seattle (max 6 matches missed) are likely to be in the playoff hunt Unless Angel City (max 7 matches missed) get back on track, I don't think they'll be playoff bound. With that in mind, there will be only 4 weeks remaining in the season. If San Diego are at the top of table, or within a shout, they might release their players. Angel City might be out, so that's Fuller. But I suspect both Bay and Seattle are in the hunt and my guess is they won't release their players, despite what I'm sure will be behind the scene politicking.
The group stage schedule: Saturday, 5 September 2026 Group A: Poland v Argentina – Arena Katowice (15:00) Group B: Brazil v Tanzania – Stadion Miejski Bielsko-Biała (15:00) Group A: Mexico v Benin – Arena Katowice (18:00) Group B: Canada v England – Stadion Miejski Bielsko-Biała (18:00) Sunday, 6 September 2026 Group C: France v Korea Republic – Arena Sosnowiec (15:00) Group D: Japan v New Zealand – Stadion Miejski ŁKS Łódź (15:00) Group C: Ecuador v Ghana – Arena Sosnowiec (18:00) Group D: USA v Italy – Stadion Miejski ŁKS Łódź (18:00) Monday, 7 September 2026 Group E: Korea DPR v Portugal – Stadion Miejski ŁKS Łódź (15:00) Group F: New Caledonia v China PR – Arena Sosnowiec (15:00) Group E: Costa Rica v Colombia – Stadion Miejski ŁKS Łódź (18:00) Group F: Spain v Nigeria – Arena Sosnowiec (18:00) Tuesday, 8 September 2026 Group A: Benin v Argentina – Arena Katowice (15:00) Group B: Brazil v Canada – Stadion Miejski Bielsko-Biała (15:00) Group A: Poland v Mexico – Arena Katowice (18:00) Group B: England v Tanzania – Stadion Miejski Bielsko-Biała (18:00) Wednesday, 9 September 2026 Group C: Ghana v Korea Republic – Arena Sosnowiec (15:00) Group D: Italy - New Zealand – Stadion Miejski ŁKS Łódź (15:00) Group C: France v Ecuador – Arena Sosnowiec (18:00) Group D: Japan v USA – Stadion Miejski ŁKS Łódź (18:00) Thursday, 10 September 2026 Group E: Korea DPR v Costa Rica – Stadion Miejski ŁKS Łódź (15:00) Group F: Spain v New Caledonia – Arena Sosnowiec (15:00) Group E: Colombia v Portugal – Stadion Miejski ŁKS Łódź (18:00) Group F: China PR v Nigeria – Arena Sosnowiec (18:00) Friday, 11 September 2026 Group B: England v Brazil – Stadion Miejski Bielsko-Biała (15:00) Group B: Tanzania v Canada – Arena Katowice (15:00) Group A: Benin v Poland – Stadion Miejski Bielsko-Biała (18:00) Group A: Argentina v Mexico – Arena Katowice (18:00) Saturday, 12 September 2026 Group D: Italy v Japan – Stadion Miejski ŁKS Łódź (15:00) Group D: New Zealand v USA – Arena Sosnowiec (15:00) Group C: Ghana v France – Arena Sosnowiec (18:00) Group C: Korea Republic v Ecuador – Stadion Miejski ŁKS Łódź (18:00) Sunday, 13 September 2026 Group F: China PR v Spain – Arena Sosnowiec (15:00) Group F: Nigeria v New Caledonia – Stadion Miejski ŁKS Łódź (15:00) Group E: Colombia v Korea DPR – Stadion Miejski ŁKS Łódź (18:00) Group E: Portugal v Costa Rica – Arena Sosnowiec (18:00)
Ullmark is likely to be part of this group (Houston Dash). Also McCammon (Reign). Then there are Ricketts, Katie Scott, Oneyka Gamero...
Yeah all those players were in the last U20 call-up for the Brazil games, (I think). Ullmark's been starting some for Houston and McCammon has been getting more time and starts than last year, the rest are getting regular sub time, Ricketts been in the League a number of years. Scott's interesting 'cause she's being used in midfield, but was previously a rightback. I'd imagine they'll be some worthy players left-out of the final squad.
At least we play New Zealand last, we may have to win to advance and we always handle them (at least at the senior level). I'm just curious to see how Italy will play as they don't get to this tournament much. Did see that the U19 team that qualified for this WC only lost 2-0 to Spain and 2-1 to France last June, so we'll need to be on alert.
I think it will depend on which players go. If the full compliment of NWSL players go plus Yohannes, then there is a good shot at the championship - a midfield of Hutton, Yohannes, and Ascanio, not to mention Pfeiffer and Fuller - holy batwoman! As a side note, I'm paying attention to Ascanio as having an outside chance to get called up for WC27. If she continues with the full season, I would not be surprised to see her get a look in early 2027, maybe in the January camp.