Regional rivals Panama, El Salvador head up Group G

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MIAMI, Florida – The 2022 Concacaf Men’s Under-20 Championship in Honduras kicks off on June 18 and a trio of Central American sides, Panama, El Salvador and Guatemala, head up the proceedings in Group G.

Champions of the 1964 edition, El Salvador will be making their 18^th appearance in the CMU20 and will be searching for their first FIFA Men’s Under-20 World Cup berth since 2013.

Overall, the Cuscatlecos have a record of 30W-13D-33L, with 110 goals scored and 103 conceded in the tournament.

Juan Barahona and Jose Villavicencio are El Salvador’s top scorers in CMU20 play with three goals each, while Andres Gonzalez dazzled onlookers at the 2018 tournament with four assists.

The 2022 edition will mark the 12^th time that Panama have participated in the CMU20 and their recent form suggests they should be in the mix for a strong finish.

The Canaleros were runners-up in 2015 and then finished third in the 2018 edition, helping them clinch their fifth and sixth U20 World Cup berths, respectively.

Panama’s all-time record at the CMU20 is 26W-8D-9L with 76 goals scored and just 44 allowed. Current Senior Men’s National Team stars Cecilio Waterman and Ismael Diaz are two of five players who have scored four goals for Panama in CMU20 action.

Guatemala are also looking to get into the mix once again in what will be their 20^th CMU20 appearance.

The Chapines were runners-up in 1962 and 1973, plus had a third-place finish in 1964 and on home soil in 2011, helping them qualify for their first and only U20 World Cup.

Guatemala’s overall record at the CMU20 is 29W-16D-40L, with 98 goals scored and 121 allowed. Gerson Lima and Rudy Barrientos, with three goals each, are Guatemala’s top CMU20 scorers.

Rounding out Group G is the only non-Central American side, Aruba, who will be making their third CMU20 appearance and second straight.

While the Caribbean squad have never advanced past the group stage, they did enjoy a memorable moment during the 2018 tournament when they earned their lone CMU20 victory in a 3-0 final versus Grenada.

Glenbert Croes (3 goals), is the country’s all-time top scorer in the CMU20.