United States women's national team head coach Emma Hayes told ESPN that she believes the U-20 Women's World Cup is crucial for player development -- and that the rest of the world has better utilized youth World Cups to improve their player pools.
"I consider the Under-20 event the biggest platform for young players to play in," Hayes said in an exclusive interview with ESPN. "I keep thinking about so many of our players that, whether they miss the Under-17, how critical it is for them to come through the Under-20s."
The 2026 U-20 Women's World Cup is expected to begin on Sept. 5 in Poland, although UEFA has said it remains committed to boycotting FIFA competitions after FIFA president Gianni Infantino's recent (now abandoned) plan to allow outside investment into the global governing body.
Hayes said she and her staff will be watching and scouting next month's U-20 World Cup in person.
The United States has historically struggled at youth World Cups. The Americans last won the U-20 World Cup in 2012 when a golden generation that included Crystal Dunn and Julie Ertz (then Johnston) triumphed. A third-place finish in 2024 was the Americans' best finish in the five editions since.
The United States has never won a U-17 World Cup.
Hayes told ESPN that there are cultural differences between the United States and top European countries like Spain, which specifically emphasizes player development at the youth international levels even for teenagers who have already turned professional.
Hayes said that those World Cup experiences, combined with the quality of youth European Championships and young players participating in the UEFA Women's Champions League, mean that rival nations have players competing significantly more often than Americans at high levels -- almost a year more of soccer games over a four-year cycle, she said.
"When I speak about this subject, I am sending a warning sign that I am worried," Hayes told ESPN. "I am massively worried about the direction for and the lack of all of those experiences for American players."
The USWNT coach pointed to two-time world player of the year Alexia Putellas having a breakout U-17 World Cup in 2010, and three-time world player of the year Aitana Bonmatí playing in a U-20 World Cup in 2018 even after gaining senior international experience, as a proof of concept.
Spain was dominant in Europe and globally at the youth levels in the decade leading up to their 2023 World Cup triumph, their first senior trophy on the women's side.
"The exposures a Spanish player is getting for high level, high quality, high international standard football is significantly higher than that of players in our country," Hayes said.
England has also accelerated its development by valuing international youth competitions, Hayes said. The USWNT head coach also praised players like Colombia's Linda Caicedo for playing in multiple youth World Cups and with her senior national team. Caicedo is still 21 and now plays for Real Madrid.
More American women have turned professional as teenagers in recent years as the National Women's Soccer League has eased rules restricting such young players. Olivia Moultrie, who is now a senior U.S. international, kicked that door open by suing the NWSL in 2021 to sign a contract with the Portland Thorns at age 15.
The increase in American women turning professional at young ages has created higher stakes for them and their NWSL teams, and youth international tournaments do not take place during official FIFA release dates, which can put players in the middle of club and country.
That has meant some of the best young players have been absent from some recent U.S. teams. Moultrie and forward Alyssa Thompson, who are now regulars with the senior USWNT, were age-eligible but missed the 2024 U-20 World Cup to stay with their professional teams.
Hayes said she feels it is unfair for young players to be in that position, and that FIFA should make U-20 World Cups part of the international match calendar as mandatory release dates.
The experience of World Cup-specific travel and the caliber of competition cannot be replicated, Hayes said. She wants to see how players handle the pressure of the World Cup next month. Hayes believes that there is direct correlation between those who shine at the U-20 World Cup level and those players who are better prepared for senior international soccer.
"In order to know what winning looks like, you've got to experience that," Hayes said. "But experiencing that deep in a tournament is something completely different."
Hayes also said that the continuity between players for Spain and Japan, for example, is clear at the senior level because they have built long-lasting connections as youth players.
Hayes has said throughout her tenure that she believes that some eligible players should oscillate between the senior national team and the U-20 and U-23 teams to gain more experience.
"Sometimes I think we think in this country, once you've progressed [to the senior team] that's it," Hayes said. "'I don't need to go back and revisit those things.' The reality is, if you get the opportunity to play Spain, Japan, France, England, Brazil, Germany, Sweden at any age group, it is an absolute necessity for your development."
Hayes believes the U-20 and U-17 World Cups will be essential for top U.S. players to experience if the Americans are to continue to be successful in future World Cup cycles -- 2031 and beyond. The 2024 U-20 World Cup had an immediate impact on the readiness of several current senior USWNT players as they compete for roles at the 2027 World Cup, she said.
"If I look at the last cycle, if I look at Ally Sentnor, Claire Hutton, Jordyn Bugg, Gisele Thompson, for example -- without that [U-20 World Cup], and I know because I watched it and I witnessed it, I'm not sure they would have made the progressions they have," Hayes said. "I think for players not playing in it, it's not enough what they do domestically. Of course, it is creating a really good platform for them to build off, but our players need to have bigger exposures internationally."