Argentina hoists the trophy following their victory in the final against the Czech Republic at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Toronto. (Geoff Robins/AFP/Getty Images)

Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza may be only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing.

But the next generation of young soccer wonders will descend en masse on the African nation later this month when it stages the FIFA U-20 World Cup later this month.

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.

The importance of the U-20 World Cup, formerly known as the FIFA World Youth Championship, 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 Egypt later this month are the same players who will become the game's next generation of superstars and feature at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

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, Thierry Henry, and Lionel Messi to name just a few.

First tourney in Tunisia

The World Youth Championship 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, as the sweltering African heat took its toll on the players who contested games in 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 World Youth Championship 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 competition 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 World Youth Championship touched down in Mexico in 1983 when 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 a pair of attendance records - 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 World Youth Championship 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 World Youth Championship 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 competition 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 European pride and ending the South American streak by defeating surprise package Japan in the final.

The 2001 World Youth Championship 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.

Canada sets attendance record

Re-christened the FIFA U-20 World Cup, the 2007 tournament was staged in Canada.

It proved a wise decision, as Canada established a new record for the highest total attendance in FIFA Under-20 World Cup history, finishing at 1,195,239.

All six Canadian cities played a major part in setting the record.

Games in Toronto and Burnaby, B.C., were sold out throughout the World Cup, while Victoria and Ottawa played to more than 95 per cent capacity.

In Montreal, the tournament registered the third-highest attendance in history for a quarter-final match between Chile and Nigeria, drawing 46,252 fans. At Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium, 32,058 spectators showed up when Canada squared off against Congo.

And although the Canadian team failed to get out of the group stage after losing all three of its games, the tournament was still a major success, with Sergio Aguero emerging as the biggest star after helping Argentina win the title for a record sixth time.

What will this year's tournament in Egypt bring? Which players will take their first step towards stardom?

Stay tuned.