The United States needs to only tie South Korea in Friday's final Group F match at the World Youth Championship in the United Arab Emirates to advance to the round of 16. It could also remain alive even if it loses by as many as two goals.
The Americans can finish no worse than third in Group F with a tie. The United States (3 pts; 4-4 goal difference) finishes second or third behind South Korea (3 pts; 2-1) if the USA-South Korea match is a tie and the match between Germany (3 pts; 3-3) and Paraguay (3 pts; 2-3) that precedes it also ends in a tie.
If the Americans are third with four points, they are already assured of being one of the four best third-place teams, all of which join the group winners and runners-up in the knockout phase. Mali (3 pts, 4-7) and Canada (3 pts, 2-4) finished third in Groups B and C, which wrapped up play on Thursday.
The Americans also beat out Mali and Canada even if they lose to South Korea by less than three goals. They would need Germany or Paraguay to win and hope they still beat out the loser of that game for third place in Group F on the tiebreakers.
The USA-South Korea game kicks off in Abu Dhabi at 11:30 am ET. The Group F doubleheader opens with Germany-Paraguay at 8:45 am ET.
USA-South Korea TV:
Galavision — East feed — delay, 1:30 pm ET.
Galavision — West-Feed — delay, 1:30 pm PT.