History of the Tournament
1977-2007: The evolution of the FIFA U-20 World Cup
By John F. Molinaro, CBCSports.ca
When asked to identify countries where passion for the “beautiful game” runs deepest, one tends to point to Brazil, or Italy or Argentina. Canada rarely, if ever, gets mentioned.
That's all about to change.
Canada, a nation where hockey is king, will be the talk of the soccer world this summer when it stages the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
The U-20 World Cup, formerly known as the FIFA World Youth Championship (the new name for the competition will be used for the first time in 2007), is soccer's world championship for players under the age of 20.
Casual sports fans might not be familiar with the U-20 World Cup, but diehard soccer supporters anxiously await the kickoff of the biennial event, which is not only the second-oldest FIFA competition (after the World Cup), but, with 24 participating nations, the second largest.
Diego Maradona led Argentina to the title at the 1979 World Youth Championship in Japan. (Getty Images)
This summer's 52-match tournament takes place in Victoria, Burnaby, B.C., Edmonton, Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal from June 30 to July 22, and more than 600,000 tickets have already been sold for what will be the largest single-sport event in Canadian history.
The importance of the U-20 World Cup can't be overstated.
Think of it as the soccer equivalent of the annual world junior hockey championship – the major difference being that while the world hockey tournament is all but ignored outside of Canada, the FIFA U-20 World Cup captures the imagination of soccer fans and media from all over the world.
Some of the young hopefuls you will see compete in Canada this summer are the same players who will become the game's next generation of superstars and feature at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
The U-20 World Cup has served as a springboard to stardom and has launched the careers of some of the biggest names and best players in soccer history: Diego Maradona, Luis Figo, Marco van Basten, Ronaldinho and Thierry Henry, to name just a few.
First tourney in Tunisia
The U-20 World Cup was the brainchild of former FIFA president João Havelange, who promised to stage a world youth championship when he campaigned for the presidency of soccer's world governing body in 1974. Havelange's vision came to fruition three years later when 16 teams gathered for the inaugural competition in Tunisia.
That first tournament was not, however, a great success. West Germany, the reigning world champions, did not participate and the sweltering African heat took its toll on the players who contested games in front of half-empty stadiums.
Not only did it fail to draw respectable audiences, but the media all but ignored the event, and news of the Soviet Union's win over Mexico in a dramatic penalty shootout in the final barely registered within the soccer world.
But the competition eventually overcame its inevitable growing pains two years later thanks to one special player.
An 18-year-old Diego Maradona was already an icon in Argentina, but he remained a mystery to soccer fans outside his homeland. The Argentine ace changed all that in Japan, becoming an international superstar with his brilliant performances. The midfield ace put Argentina on his shoulders and led his country to the title, a year after he was snubbed by the senior team that went on to win the World Cup on home soil. Fans in Japan received a small taste of an emerging genius, one who would go on to change the face of soccer during his glorious career.
Not only did Maradona announce his presence to the world in Japan, establishing a legacy that continues to this day, but he also gave the U-20 World Cup instant credibility and stature and global recognition. The tournament would never be the same again.
Japan also marked Canada's debut at the tournament. The Canadians pulled off a major upset when they defeated Portugal 3-1, but did not advance beyond the opening round.
After a stop in Australia in 1981, the U-20 World Cup touched down in Mexico where Brazil won the first of its four titles by defeating South American rival Argentina in an epic final before 105,000 fans in Mexico City.
Mexico proved to be a gracious and attentive host as it set two attendance records that still stand – a total of 1.15 million fans passed through the turnstiles (almost three times the amount each of the previous two tournaments drew) and the competition averaged a whopping 36,099 spectators per game.
Canada qualified in 1985 in the Soviet Union and two years later in Chile, but bowed out in the first round both times as Brazil and Yugoslavia claimed the crown, respectively.
While the Portuguese national side was underachieving, the youth team, dubbed the "Golden Generation," lived up to its top billing when it defeated Nigeria in the 1989 final in Saudi Arabia. Portugal became the first European side to repeat as champions when it won the 1991 title on home soil.
Led by Luis Figo, Rui Costa, Joao Pinto and Fernando Cuoto – a quartet that would become the backbone of Portugal's senior national team for more than a decade – the Portuguese breezed through the tournament with an undefeated record, giving up just one goal along the way. Portugal’s championship run ended in the most dramatic of circumstances: a penalty shootout victory over mighty Brazil in the final before 125,000 spectators jammed inside Lisbon's Stadium of Light.
South Americans take stage
The South American power base of Brazil and Argentina asserted itself by winning the next three tournaments: Brazil in 1993 in Australia, Argentina in 1995 in Qatar and 1997 in Malaysia.
The 1997 competition was another landmark year for the U-20 World Cup as Argentina claimed its second consecutive championship in one of the most star-studded tournaments in history.
France, with Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet, and an England side featuring Michael Owen, were the pre-tournament favourites, but it was Argentina who wowed opponents with their technical proficiency and artistic creativity. Walter Samuel and Diego Placente anchored a stingy Argentine defence, while the brilliant midfield quartet of Esteban Cambiasso, Diego Markic, Juan Roman Riquelme and Pablo Aimar powered the South Americans to the title.
The 1997 U-20 World Cup was also noteworthy for Canadian fans. For the first time in four appearances, Canada advanced to the second round before succumbing to a powerful Spanish side. Canada would have to wait six years to make a similar run in the competition.
Nigeria was supposed to stage the 1995 U-20 World Cup but FIFA had doubts over its ability to properly stage the tournament and appointed Qatar as the new host nation at the last minute.
Nigeria would not be denied, however, and FIFA granted the African nation hosting responsibilities in 1999. Nigeria and two other African countries impressed by making it to the quarter-finals, but Spain ran out winners in the end, striking a blow for Europe and ending the South American streak by defeating surprise package Japan in the final.
The 2001 U-20 World Cup proved to be a showcase for another exciting Argentine: Javier Saviola.
Saviola lived up to his nickname of El Conejo – the rabbit – by using his speed and clinical finishing ability to score a tournament-record 11 goals, breaking the old mark (10 goals) set by Brazil's Adailton four years earlier.
Saviola was the toast of the competition, overcoming his diminutive size to outsmart opposing defenders and guide Argentina to the championship on home soil.
Canada failed to build on its 1997 success when it lost all three of its opening round games in Argentina.
Brazil back on top
Brazil was back on top in 2003 in the United Arab Emirates, winning its fourth title by defeating Spain in the final. Canada enjoyed a major breakthrough when it advanced to the second round where it defeated Burkina Faso 1-0. Canada put in a brave effort in the quarter-finals, losing to Spain 2-1 in extra time.
Argentina claimed its record fifth championship win with a victory over Nigeria in the 2005 final, while Canada went home after being eliminated in the first round.
Like Maradona in 1979, Argentine teenager Lionel Messi dominated this competition in the Netherlands, jinking his way through opposing defences, and wreaking havoc with his blinding speed, explosive scoring ability and magnificent dribbling skills.
The young talisman, who turned 18 on the eve of the quarter-finals, finished as the top scorer with six goals (including both goals in Argentina's 2-1 win over Nigeria in the final) and was named tournament MVP.
Now, 30 years after the birth of the tournament, the next generation of superstars are set to converge on Canada, and another important chapter will be added to the FIFA U-20 history books.
