2023 South American U-20 Championship

2023 South American U-20 Championship
CONMEBOL Sudamericano Sub-20 Colombia 2023
Tournament details
Host countryColombia
Dates19 January – 12 February
Teams10 (from 1 confederation)
Venue(s)4 (in 3 host cities)
Final positions
Champions Brazil (12th title)
Runners-up Uruguay
Third place Colombia
Fourth place Ecuador
Tournament statistics
Matches played35
Goals scored78 (2.23 per match)
Top scorer(s)Brazil Vitor Roque
Brazil Andrey Santos
(6 goals each)
2025 →

The 2023 South American U-20 Championship was the 30th edition of the South American U-20 Championship (Spanish: CONMEBOL Sudamericano Sub-20, Portuguese: CONMEBOL Sul-Americano Sub-20), the biennial international youth football championship organised by CONMEBOL for the men's under-20 national teams of South America. It was held in Colombia between 19 January and 12 February 2023.[1][2]

The South American U-20 Championship returned after 4 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic forcing CONMEBOL to cancel the tournament in 2021.[3]

The tournament served as qualifier for two international events. The top four teams qualified for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup as the CONMEBOL representatives.[4] The top three teams also qualified for the 2023 Pan American Games men's football tournament, in addition to Chile who automatically qualified as hosts.[5]

After twelve years, Brazil won the tournament again after finishing first in the final stage's group, which meant the twelfth title in their history. Champions Brazil, runners-up Uruguay and the hosts and third place Colombia qualified for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup and 2023 Pan American Games. Defending champions Ecuador managed to reach the last berth for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup after finishing in fourth place.[6]

Subsequently, Argentina qualified for the 2023 U-20 World Cup as hosts after FIFA awarded the country the rights to organize the tournament in place of the original hosts Indonesia.[7] Argentina had failed to qualify for the World Cup after being eliminated in the first stage.[8]

Uruguay would go on to win the 2023 U-20 World Cup that year.

Teams

All ten CONMEBOL member national teams are eligible to enter the tournament.

Team Appearance Previous best performance
 Argentina 28th Champions (5 times, most recent 2015)
 Bolivia 25th Fourth place (2 times, most recent 1983)
 Brazil 29th Champions (11 times, most recent 2011)
 Chile 30th Runners-up (1 time, 1975)
 Colombia (hosts) 28th Champions (3 times, most recent 2013)
 Ecuador (holders) 25th Champions (1 time, 2019)
 Paraguay 28th Champions (1 time, 1971)
 Peru 29th Fourth place (5 times, most recent 1975)
 Uruguay 29th Champions (8 times, most recent 2017)
 Venezuela 26th Third place (2 times, most recent 2017)

Venues

Colombia had been originally chosen to host the South American U-20 Championship that was to be held in 2021.[9] That tournament ended up being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, Colombia maintained its right to hold the South American U-20 Championship but in 2023.[10] This was the fifth time that Colombia hosts the tournament having previously done so in 1964, 1987, 1992 and 2005.[11]

Cali, Palmira and Bogotá were selected as host cities.[11] Cali and Palmira hosted the first stage's matches in two venues, the Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero and the Estadio Deportivo Cali. The final stage's matches were played in Bogotá also in two venues, the Estadio El Campín and the Estadio Metropolitano de Techo.[12][13]

Cali Palmira
class=notpageimage|
Location of the host cities of the 2023 South American U-20 Championship.
Estadio
Pascual Guerrero 		Estadio Deportivo Cali
Capacity: 35,405 Capacity: 42,000
Bogotá
Estadio El Campín Estadio Metropolitano
de Techo
Capacity: 36,343 Capacity: 8,000

Match officials

On 9 December 2022, CONMEBOL announced a total of 11 referees and 22 assistant referees appointed for the tournament, included a Portuguese refereeing team.[14] For the first time, a UEFA refereeing team will participate in the South American U-20 Championship as part of the UEFA–CONMEBOL memorandum of understanding signed in February 2020, which included a referee exchange programme.[15]

Portuguese referee João Pinheiro was replaced by his fellow countryman António Nobre.[16]

Squads

Main article: 2023 South American U-20 Championship squads

Players born between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2007 were eligible to compete in the tournament. Each team could register a maximum of 23 and a minimum of 19 players, including at least 3 goalkeepers (Regulations Articles 46 and 49).[4]

Draw

The draw of the tournament was held on 21 December 2022, 14:00 PYT (UTC−3), at the CONMEBOL headquarters in Luque, Paraguay.[17] The ten teams were drawn into two groups of five. The hosts Colombia and defending champions Ecuador were seeded into Group A and Group B respectively and assigned to position 1 in their group, while the remaining teams were placed into four "pairing pots" according to their results in the 2019 South American U-20 Championship (shown in brackets).[18]

Seeded Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4
  •  Colombia (4) (Hosts, assigned to A1)
  •  Ecuador (1) (Title holders, assigned to B1)

From each pot, the first team drawn was placed into Group A and the second team drawn was placed into Group B. In both groups, teams from pot 1 were allocated in position 2, teams from pot 2 in position 3, teams from pot 3 in position 4 and teams from pot 4 in position 5.[19]

The draw resulted in the following groups:[20]

Group A
Pos Team
A1  Colombia
A2  Argentina
A3  Brazil
A4  Paraguay
A5  Peru
Group B
Pos Team
B1  Ecuador
B2  Uruguay
B3  Venezuela
B4  Chile
B5  Bolivia

First stage

The top three teams in each group advanced to the final stage.

Tiebreakers

In the first stage, teams were ranked according to points earned (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). If tied on points, tiebreakers would be applied in the following order (Regulations Article 21):[4]

  1. Head-to-head result between tied teams;
    • Points in head-to-head matches among the tied teams;
    • Goal difference in head-to-head matches among the tied teams;
    • Goals scored in head-to-head matches among the tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in all group matches;
  3. Goals scored in all group matches;
  4. Fewest red cards received;
  5. Fewest yellow cards received;
  6. Drawing of lots.

All match times are in COT (UTC−5), as listed by CONMEBOL.[21][22]

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Brazil 4 3 1 0 9 3 +6 10 Final stage
2  Colombia (H) 4 2 2 0 5 3 +2 8
3  Paraguay 4 2 1 1 5 4 +1 7
4  Argentina 4 1 0 3 3 6 −3 3
5  Peru 4 0 0 4 1 7 −6 0
Source: CONMEBOL
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Peru 0–3 Brazil
Report
Colombia 1–1 Paraguay
Luna 46' Report Wlk 6' (pen.)
Paraguay 2–1 Argentina
 Report Perrone 34'
Peru 1–2 Colombia
Vásquez 37' Report Cortés 45', 74'
Paraguay 1–0 Peru
D. González 33' Report
Referee: Ivo Méndez (Bolivia)
Argentina 1–3 Brazil
González 90' Report
Argentina 1–0 Peru
Infantino 41' Report
Brazil 1–1 Colombia
Andrey Santos 44' Report Puerta 31'
Colombia 1–0 Argentina
J. Fuentes 75' Report
Brazil 2–1 Paraguay
 Report

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Uruguay 4 3 1 0 11 2 +9 10 Final stage
2  Venezuela 4 2 0 2 2 4 −2 6
3  Ecuador 4 1 2 1 3 3 0 5
4  Chile 4 1 1 2 2 5 −3 4
5  Bolivia 4 1 0 3 2 6 −4 3
Source: CONMEBOL
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Bolivia 1–0 Venezuela
Nava 52' Report
Ecuador 1–1 Chile
Cuero 33' Report Conelli 25'
Bolivia 0–1 Ecuador
Report Durán 79' (o.g.)
Chile 0–3 Uruguay
Report
Uruguay 3–0 Venezuela
 Report
Chile 1–0 Bolivia
Assadi 19' Report
Uruguay 4–1 Bolivia
 Report Luján 5' (pen.)
Venezuela 1–0 Ecuador
Alcócer 15' (pen.) Report
Venezuela 1–0 Chile
Alcócer 48' (pen.) Report
Ecuador 1–1 Uruguay
Cuero 13' Report Chagas 15'

Final stage

If teams finished level on points, the final rankings would be determined according to the same criteria as the first stage, taking into account only matches in the final stage.

All match times are in COT (UTC−5), as listed by CONMEBOL.[23]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Brazil (C) 5 4 1 0 10 1 +9 13 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup &
2023 Pan American Games
2  Uruguay 5 4 0 1 8 4 +4 12
3  Colombia (H) 5 3 1 1 6 2 +4 10
4  Ecuador 5 1 1 3 5 8 −3 4 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup
5  Venezuela 5 0 2 3 4 11 −7 2
6  Paraguay 5 0 1 4 2 9 −7 1
Source: CONMEBOL GloboEsporte
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(C) Champions; (H) Hosts
Paraguay 1–1 Venezuela
 Report
Brazil 3–1 Ecuador
 Report
Uruguay 1–0 Colombia
 Report
Uruguay 2–1 Ecuador
 Report
Brazil 3–0 Venezuela
 Report
Referee: Ivo Méndez (Bolivia)
Colombia 3–0 Paraguay
 Report
Venezuela 1–4 Uruguay
 Report
Paraguay 0–2 Brazil
Report
Colombia 1–0 Ecuador
 Report
Ecuador 1–1 Venezuela
 Report
Uruguay 1–0 Paraguay
 Report
Colombia 0–0 Brazil
Report
Ecuador 2–1 Paraguay
 Report
Venezuela 1–2 Colombia
 Report
Brazil 2–0 Uruguay
 Report

Goalscorers

There were 78 goals scored in 35 matches, for an average of 2.23 goals per match.

6 goals

5 goals

4 goals

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

1 own goal

Qualification for international tournaments

Qualified teams for FIFA U-20 World Cup

The following five teams from CONMEBOL qualified for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup, including Argentina which qualified as hosts.

Team Qualified on Previous appearances in FIFA U-20 World Cup1
 Uruguay 6 February 2023[24] 15 (1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1991, 1993, 1997, 1999, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019)
 Brazil 6 February 2023[24] 18 (1977, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2015)
 Colombia 9 February 2023[25] 10 (1985, 1987, 1989, 1993, 2003, 2005, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2019)
 Ecuador 12 February 2023[25] 4 (2001, 2011, 2017, 2019)
 Argentina 17 April 2023[7] 16 (1979, 1981, 1983, 1989, 1991, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2019)
1 Bold indicates champions for that year. Italic indicates hosts for that year.

Qualified teams for Pan American Games

The following four teams from CONMEBOL qualified for the 2023 Pan American Games men's football tournament, including Chile which qualified as hosts.

Team Qualified on Previous appearances in Pan American Games2
 Chile 4 November 2017 5 (1951, 1963, 1983, 1987, 1995)
 Uruguay 6 February 2023 7 (1963, 1975, 1983, 1999, 2011, 2015, 2019)
 Brazil 6 February 2023 11 (1959, 1963, 1975, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1995, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015)
 Colombia 9 February 2023 6 (1967, 1971, 1987, 1995, 2003, 2007)
2 Bold indicates champions for that year. Italic indicates hosts for that year.

Broadcasting rights

Radio

Television

References

  1. ^ "Calendario de torneos de la CONMEBOL 2023" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 7 July 2022.
  2. ^ "Fechas y Sedes de los Torneos CONMEBOL 2023" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 1 October 2022.
  3. ^ "Información sobre torneos de selecciones juveniles 2021" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 5 August 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "Reglamento CONMEBOL Sub20 2023" (PDF) (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 15 December 2022.
  5. ^ "Santiago 2023 Qualification Systems Manual – Football" (PDF). www.santiago2023.org. Santiago 2023. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  6. ^ "Brasil conquista su título 12° en la CONMEBOL Sub20" [Brazil wins their 12th CONMEBOL U20 title] (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 12 February 2023.
  7. ^ a b "FIFA confirms Argentina as host nation for FIFA U-20 World Cup 2023". FIFA. 17 April 2023.
  8. ^ "FIFA confirms Argentina as host of U20 World Cup". Buenos Aires Times. 17 April 2023.
  9. ^ "Fechas y sedes para cuatro torneos juveniles 2020 y 2021" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 6 August 2020.
  10. ^ "COLOMBIA ORGANIZARÁ EL CAMPEONATO SUDAMERICANO SUB20 DE 2023". fcf.com.co/ (in Spanish). Colombian Football Federation. 16 April 2021. Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Bogotá y Cali serán ciudades anfitrionas del Sudamericano sub-20 en 2023" [Bogotá and Cali will be the host cities of the South American Under-20 in 2023] (in Spanish). Infobae. 20 September 2022.
  12. ^ "Ya están definidos los estadios para jugar la Copa Libertadores Femenina 2023 en Colombia" [Stadiums to play the Copa Libertadores Femenina 2023 in Colombia are already defined] (in Spanish). Infobae. 19 November 2022.
  13. ^ "Así se jugará el CONMEBOL SUB20 de 2023" [This is how the 2023 CONMEBOL U20 will be played] (in Spanish). Uruguayan Football Association. 13 December 2022.
  14. ^ "Árbitros convocados para el CONMEBOL Sub20 – Colombia 2023" [Referees appointed for the CONMEBOL U-20 – Colombia 2023]. CONMEBOL. 9 December 2022.
  15. ^ "La CONMEBOL y la UEFA acuerdan cooperación en materia arbitral" [CONMEBOL and UEFA agree to cooperation in arbitration matters]. CONMEBOL.com (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 21 April 2021.
  16. ^ "António Nobre rende João Pinheiro na Copa América sub-20" [António Nobre replaces João Pinheiro in the U-20 Copa América] (in Portuguese). Record. 12 January 2023.
  17. ^ "SORTEO DE GRUPOS EN EL CONMEBOL SUB 20 – COLOMBIA 2023". Colombian Football Federation. 14 December 2022.
  18. ^ Jannuzzi, Thiago (12 December 2022). "PAUTAS DEL SORTEO CONMEBOL Sub20 2023" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL.
  19. ^ "Sorteo - Sorteio | CONMEBOL Sub20 2023" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 21 December 2022 – via YouTube.
  20. ^ "La CONMEBOL Sub20 va tomando forma y confirmó a sus grupos" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 21 December 2022.
  21. ^ "CONMEBOL SUB20 2023 Calendario de partidos (previo al sorteo)" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 13 December 2022.
  22. ^ "CONMEBOL SUB20 2023 Calendario de partidos" (PDF) (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 22 December 2022.
  23. ^ "CONMEBOL SUB 20 2023 - Programa de partidos Fase final" (PDF). CONMEBOL. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  24. ^ a b "Brazil and Uruguay qualify for the U-20 World Cup". FIFA. 6 February 2023.
  25. ^ a b "How South American Youth Championship has showcased the continent's under-20 talent for decades". FIFA. 13 February 2023.