Orlando City defender Michael Halliday and the United States U-20 National Team are successfully through to the knockout rounds after topping their group at the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championships.
The event will determine qualification for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Indonesia and the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Halliday played a key role throughout the group stage for the U.S. He subbed on at halftime in the Americans’ 10-0 rout of St. Kitts and Nevis in the first game, then went the full 90 minutes at right back as the U.S. drew Canada 2-2. Halliday again came on at the half in the Americans’ 3-0 victory over Cuba on Wednesday night that clinched the group.
Overall, Halliday played 180 minutes across the three games and spent more time at right back than any other player on the roster.
Looking ahead, the United States will face Nicaragua in the Round of 16. The Nicaraguans competed in a previous qualification tournament in November for the lower-ranked nations in CONCACAF, winning their group with a perfect 3-0-0 record and a +13 goal differential.
Should the U.S. advance, they would face either Costa Rica, Trinidad & Tobago, or Suriname in the quarterfinals. That round will determine qualification for the U-20 World Cup. If the Americans then win in the semifinals, they will secure a return to the Summer Olympics for the first time since 2008.
