Two Debut Goals Rescue the US Under-20 Women at the FIFA World Cup in Poland

The US Under-20 Women's National Team came from behind twice to draw Japan 2-2 in Lodz, Poland, at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, following an opening defeat to Italy. The result leaves the Americans needing a win over New Zealand in their final group game, plus a favorable goal difference, for a strong chance of reaching the knockout rounds. The night belonged to two players earning their first tournament goals: Seattle Reign forward Ainsley McCammon headed home a corner in the first half, and Washington Huskies standout Alex Buck added a second-half equalizer after a driving run through Japan's defense. Both moments capped performances built on relentless pressure, with the US earning eight corner kicks and creating repeated chances despite two missed breakaways. Head coach Vicky Jepson's starting lineup blended five NWSL professionals with six college players - a reminder that there isn't one single path to representing your country. Whether a player's next step is turning professional out of high school or developing through a college program, both routes can lead to major international tournaments. For young players following the tournament, the US performance shows that setbacks - like the opening loss to Italy - don't have to define a tournament. Bouncing back with composure, creating chances even when goals aren't falling, and seizing your moment when it finally comes, as McCammon and Buck did, can turn a difficult start into a real opportunity. Source: U.S. Soccer (https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2026/09/ynt-u20-wnt/us-under-20-womens-national-team-draws-japan-fifa-world-cup-poland-match-recap)