The USA will face South Korea, Poland and Brazil in the Under-20 World Cup this summer in Canada.

The Americans opens against Korea on June 30, then faces Poland on July 3 at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium before concluding group play on July 6 against four-time U-20 world champion Brazil at Frank Clair Stadium in Ottawa. The top two teams in each group plus the four best third-place finishers advance to the round of 16.

“Anytime you go to a World Cup and you’re drawn with Brazil it’s exciting,” said U.S. U-20 coach Thomas Rongen. “For us to go out and measure ourselves against the best in the world is what this under-20 competition is all about.”

Two years ago, the USA beat perennial U-20 powerhouse Argentina, 1-0, in group play. The Americans reached the round of 16, where they fell to Italy. It marked the fifth straight time they advanced out of group play.

The USA beat South Korea, 2-0, in 2003 to ensure passage to the second round as the group winner. In their only other meeting, the USA and South Korea played to a 2-2 tie in 1993, a result that sent Bobby Howe‘s team to the quarterfinals in what was then a 16-team tournament. Poland outclassed the USA, 4-0, at the 1981 World Youth Championship, where the Americans were making their debut in the FIFA youth competition. The USA has to lost to Brazil three times — twice in 1989, in group play and the third-place game, and in 1993, in the quarterfinals.

South Korea finished third in the 2006 AFC Youth Championship in India and qualified for the U-20 world championships for the 10th time. Poland hosted the 2006 UEFA European U-19 Championship and finished in fifth place to qualify for the U-20 World Cup for the first time since 1983. Poland features American Andrew Konopelsky, who was a 2005 CAA all-freshman selection at Northeastern. He sat out the 2006 season and has hoped to turn pro.

Brazil qualified for the 2007 World Cup by winning the South American U-20 Championship in January. It features such young stars as Alexandre Pato, Lucas Pazzini and Leandro Lima.

UNDER-20 WORLD CUP DRAW:
Group A: Canada, Chile, Congo, Austria
Group B: Spain, Uruguay, Jordan, Zambia
Group C: Portugal, New Zealand, Gambia, Mexico
Group D: Poland, Brazil, South Korea, USA
Group E: Argentina, Czech Republic, North Korea, Panama
Group F: Japan, Scotland, Nigeria, Costa Rica