After U20 World Cup quarter-final exit: Campbell returns to BVB | OneFootball

Cole Campbell certainly imagined things would turn out quite differently. When the young professional from Borussia Dortmund set off with the USA for the U20 World Cup in Chile, he was hoping to win the title. But the 19-year-old winger returns to BVB empty-handed.

Things went as expected for the US boys in the group stage. First, they swept underdogs New Caledonia out of the stadium with a 9-1 victory. Campbell scored the final goal. This was followed by a strong 3-0 win against France. The 1-2 defeat on the last matchday against South Africa no longer mattered. As group winners, the United States advanced to the knockout stage.

In the round of 16, Campbell & Co. faced Italy. As in the first two group matches, the BVB player was in the starting eleven. The USA put in a strong performance and confidently won 3-0. Their opponent in the quarterfinals would be Morocco.

Campbell equalized the early lead of the North Africans with a penalty in stoppage time of the first half. But after the break, only one team found the net—Morocco, twice. After a 1-3 defeat, the tournament was over for the North Americans. The dream of the USA U20 team reaching the semifinals for the first time was abruptly shattered.

Dream: World Cup 2026

Whether his overall rather mixed performances at the tournament will improve his chances in Dortmund remains to be seen. He often came off second best in many duels and lost possession (too) frequently.

So far, he has made seven professional appearances for the Black and Yellows. In the current season, Niko Kovač (53) gave him a good fifteen minutes of playing time in the 2-0 away win against 1. FC Heidenheim. The American’s contract with Borussia runs until 2028.

“This is an important season for me. I want to break through with the first team. For that, I have to work hard and then we’ll see what’s possible. I hope I get my chance soon,” Campbell emphasized in a 2024 interview with Ruhr Nachrichten. His dream is “to be in the squad for the 2026 World Cup in my home country.” But if he continues to get so few opportunities to show his skills on the pitch, a World Cup appearance will be difficult to achieve.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.