After four years in the wilderness, one of South America’s top youth tournaments returns this week as the U20 South American Championships gets underway in Colombia.
In 2019, it was Ecuador who had a terrific campaign by picking up their first U20 South American Championship title.
Four of their players; Diego Palacios, Jackson Porozo, Gonzalo Plata and Leonardo Campana featured in the team of the tournament and since then, have earned moves to Europe or MLS.
Also featuring in the 2019 team of the tournament was Julián Álvarez, who in the four years following the competition has gone on to lift several club accolades with River Plate, moved to Manchester City and placed himself at the epitome of international football by lifting the Copa America and World Cup.
Over the next month, ten countries will battle it out for four places in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Indonesia later this year, and the three highest qualifiers will also compete at the 2023 Pan American Games.
Group A
Colombia Squad
Goalkeepers: Alexei Rojas, Luis Marquinez, Cristian Santander
Defenders: Juan Mina, Andrés Salazar, Édier Ocampo, Fernando Álvarez, Julián Palacios, Kevin Mantilla, Daniel Pedrozo
Midfielders: Daniel Luna, Óscar Cortés, Jhon Vélez, Gustavo Puerta, Alexis Manyoma, Miguel Ángel Monsalve, Johan Torres, Juan Castilla
Forwards: Ricardo Caraball, Jhon Jáder Durán, Juanda Fuentes, Isaac Zuleta, Jorge Cabezas
Argentina Squad
Goalkeepers: Federico Gomes Gerth, Franco Herrera, Francisco Gómez
Defenders: Lautaro Di Lollo, Nahuel Génez, Julián Aude, Brian Aguilar, Agustín Giay, Valentín Gómez, Francisco Marco, Ulises Ciccioli
Midfielders: Maximiliano González, Máximo Perrone, Axel Encinas, Facundo Buonanotte, Gino Infantino, Nico Paz, Brian Aguirre
Forwards: Ignacio Maestro Puch, Alejo Véliz, Santiago Castro, Nicolás Vallejo, Julián Fernández
Brazil Squad
Goalkeepers: Kaíque, Kauã Santos, Mycael
Defenders: Arthur, Kaiki Bruno, Patryck, André Dhominique, Douglas Mendes, Robert Renan, Weverton, Jean Pedroso
Midfielders: Andrey Santos, Marlon Gomes, Alexsander, Ronald, Guilherme Biro
Forwards: Pedro Henrique, Stênio Zanetti, Giovane, Renan Viana, Sávio, Vitor Roque, Luis Guilherme
Paraguay Squad
Goalkeepers: Ángel González, Rodrigo Frutos, Javier Talavera
Defenders: Alan Núñez, Gilberto Flores, Alexis Cantero, Thiago Servín, Abel Brítez, Axel Alfonzo, Alexis Fretes, Víctor Cabañas, Luis Rolón
Midfielders:Víctor Quintana, Diego Gómez, Matías Segovia, Nelson Gauto, Ariel Gamarra, César Olmedo, Tobías Sanabria
Forwards: Diego González, Allan Wlk, Leonardo Rolón, Kevin Pereira
Peru Squad
Goalkeepers: Sebastián Amasifuen, Denzel Caña, Josué Vargas
Defenders: Kluiverth Aguilar, Nicolás Amasifuen, Sebastián Aranda, Álex Custodio, Matías Lazo, Gilmar Paredes, Arón Sánchez, Anderson Villacorta
Midfielders: Gonzalo Aguirre,Catriel Cabellos, Jack Carhuallanqui, Álvaro Rojas, André Vásquez, Valentino Sandoval
Forwards: Kenji Cabrera, Juan Pablo Goicochea
Bruno Portugal, Sebastien Pineau, Diether Vásquez, Diego Otoya
Group B
Bolivia Squad
Goalkeepers: Bruno Poveda, Joel Bernal, Leonardo Guzmán
Defenders: Eduardo Álvarez, Efraín Morales, Jhon Velasco, Yomar Rocha, Carlitos Rodriguez, Luis Paz
Midfielders: Diego Parrado, José Herrera, Erwin Vaca, Carlos Cejas, Juan Magallanes, Pablo Luján, Denilson Durán, Lucas Chávez
Forwards: Fabricio Quaglio, José Flores, Fernando Nava, Ramiro Eguez, Daniel Ribera, Miguel Villarroel
Chile Squad
Goalkeepers: Vincent Reyes, Peter Garrido, Thomas Gillier
Defenders: Yahir Salazar, Matias Vasquez, Marcelo Morales, Tomas Aviles, Sebastian Pino, Darko Fiamengo, Maicol Leon
Midfielders: Lucas Assad, Renato Cordero, Bryan Gonzalez, Joan Cruz, Christopher Castillo, Jeison Fuentealba, Martin Maturana
Forwards: Diego Bones, Vicente Conelli, Manuel Lolas, Paul Guajardo, Dario Osorio, Gabriel Norambuena
Ecuador Squad
Goalkeepers: Ethan Minda,Tony Jiménez, Gilmar Napa
Defenders: Luis Córdova, Daniel de la Cruz, Yeltzin Erique, Garis Mina, Davis Bautista, Orlando Herrera
Midfielders: Byron Carabalí, Denil Castillo, Óscar Zambrano, Sebastián González, Patrickson Delgado, José Klinger, Patrik Mercado, Emerson Pata, Juan Sánchez
Forwards: Alan Minda, Justin Cuero, Yaimar Medina, Romario Sosa, Cristhoper Zambrano
Uruguay Squad
Goalkeepers: Randall Rodríguez, Facundo Machado, José Arbío
Defenders: Ignacio Rodríguez, Sebastián Boselli, Facundo González, Mateo Antoni, Mateo Ponte, Mathías De Ritis, Rodrigo Cabrera
Midfielders: Fabricio Díaz, Rodrigo Chagas, Damián García, Ignacio Sosa, Renzo Sánchez, Franco González, Juan Cruz de los Santos, Matías Abaldo
Forwards: Anderson Duarte, Luciano Rodríguez, Nicolás Siri, Emiliano Rodríguez, Álvaro Rodríguez
Venezuela Squad
Goalkeepers: Samuel Rodríguez, Frankarlos Benítez, Keiber Roa
Defenders: Rafael Uzcátegui, Santiago Gómez, Emerson Ruíz, Renne Rivas, Carlos Rojas, Alejandro Cova, Andry Vera
Midfielders: Telasco Segovia, Wikelman Carmona, Maicol Ruiz, Cesar Da Silva, Bryant Ortega, Andrés Romero, Brayan Alcócer
Forwards: José Riasco, Kevin Kelsy, David Martínez, Néstor Jiménez, Lewuis Peña, Yerson Chacón
Tournament Schedule (Group Stage)
Thursday 19th January 2023
Peru vs Brazil Kick-off — 22:00 (GMT)
Friday 20th January 2023
Colombia v Paraguay Kick-off 00:30 (GMT)
Bolivia v Venezuela Kick-off 22:00 (GMT)
Saturday 21st January 2023
Ecuador v Chile Kick-off 00:30 (GMT)
Paraguay v Argentina Kick-off 21:00 (GMT)
Peru v Colombia Kick-off 23:30 (GMT)
Sunday 22nd January 2023
Bolivia v Ecuador Kick-off 21:00 (GMT)
Chile v Uruguay Kick-off 23:30 (GMT)
Monday 23rd January 2023
Paraguay v Peru Kick-off 22:00 (GMT)
Tuesday 24th January 2023
Argentina v Brazil Kick-off 00:30 (GMT)
Uruguay v Venezuela Kick-off 22:00 (GMT)
Wednesday 25th January 2023
Chile v Bolivia Kick-off 00:30 (GMT)
Argentina v Peru Kick-off 22:00 (GMT)
Thursday 26th January 2023
Brazil v Colombia Kick-off 00:30 (GMT)
Uruguay v Bolivia Kick-off 22:00 (GMT)
Friday 27th January 2023
Venezuela v Ecuador Kick-off 00:30 (GMT)
Saturday 28th January 2023
Brazil v Paraguay Kick-off 00:30 (GMT)
Colombia v Argentina Kick-off 00:30 (GMT)
Ecuador v Uruguay Kick off 23:30 (GMT)
Venezuela v Chile Kick-off 23:30 (GMT)
The fixtures for the Final stage will be updated after the group stage is complete.