Harrison, NJ (July 18, 2023) — For New York Red Bulls midfielder Daniel Edelman, sporting the captain's armband for the United States U-20 Men’s Youth National Team at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup was more than another milestone in his young career – it helps to define him.
Edelman, a Warren, New Jersey, native, has been playing with the U-20 squad since 2021, attending camps, competing in matches, and finding his role on the team. Ultimately, his goal was to be named to the U-20 World Cup roster.
“Building up to the U-20 World Cup, it was a long process,” Edelman said. “The first camp was back in November of 2021 and I was at a bunch of camps in 2022. I think I really found my role in March (of 2022). Then in qualifiers in June of 2022, I started to find myself on the team, be true to myself, and realize that I had a job to do.”
The process was not easy, but all the hard work was well worth it when Edelman received the news.
“My head coach, Mikey (Varas), gave me a call and informed me that I had made the roster,” Edelman said. “I think I had some inhibitions that I was going to make it. I was confident in what I had done for the team. I wasn’t presumptuous, but when he finally called, I was like, ‘OK, now it's time to get to work and prove myself at the global level.’”
Once Edelman got the green light, he got ready to head to Argentina.
Edelman arrived to training camp with a week to prepare for the team’s first contest. Rather than heading to camp multiple weeks early, like some of his teammates, the defensive midfielder spent an extra match with his MLS club, helping the Red Bulls earn a 1-0 win over rival NYCFC in the first Derby of the 2023 season.
The U-20 team's tournament run started off with a match against Ecuador in the group stage. Edelman stepped onto the pitch in the 70th minute as a substitute and helped his team to a 1-0 win.
After a decision by the coaching staff to not start Edelman in the first game, the Red Bulls Academy product experienced a surreal moment, being named captain for the side before the second game.
"To get the arm band for the second game, that was a super happy moment for me,” the midfielder said. "I had worn it in all the previous camps before, but now this was at the U-20 World Cup and I was the one wearing the arm band. (It was) an absolute honor and privilege.”
Proudly wearing the arm band, Edelman led the U.S. squad to wins in its second and third group stage matches against Fiji and Slovakia, respectively. With a 3-0 record, the Americans topped their group heading into the knockout stage.
The U-20s then faced off against New Zealand in the first round of the knockout stage, and for the third-straight competition, Edelman was named to the starting lineup as the captain of the side. The Red Bulls’ homegrown player guided his team to a 4-0 rout, setting up a match with Uruguay in the quarterfinals.
The U.S. wound up falling 2-0 in its fourth-straight quarterfinal appearance in the U-20 World Cup, as the Uruguay goals were the first conceded by the U-20s in the tournament. Edelman came on as a substitution in the 55th minute.
Despite the disappointing loss, the World Cup run was nothing short of incredible for Edelman. Although he had worn the arm band for the U-20s previously, this stage was on another level – something he did not take lightly.
“I think it was a little different feeling because all the other tournaments were nothing like the World Cup,” Edelman added. “The title of the tournament, that’s something. I want to play in the senior World Cup in 2026, hopefully, but this is the first stepping-stone for me. To wear the arm band, it shows that I have the potential to get to the next spot in my life, which is the senior level.
“(I was) super excited and relieved that all the work I put in didn’t go to waste. It was put toward something that was bigger, playing at a U-20 World Cup, which not a lot of people can say they did.”
As Edelman continues to shine throughout his young career, he has goals for every aspect of it. Right now, the midfielder is focused on two things: the success of the Red Bulls and wearing the badge for the United States on the world’s biggest stage.
Despite setting goals for his future, Edelman understands the importance of reflecting on his experiences.
“(The World Cup) was honestly super special; it’s always an honor to wear the badge and crest,” Edelman said. “We would have liked to have made a run. I think we really could have gotten to the semifinal or the final, but it’s something that I will carry now for the rest of my young career.”
Edelman did not disappoint in his return from Argentina. In his second match back with New York, he returned to the Red Bulls’ starting lineup against Atlanta United at defensive midfield. He scored the game’s first goal – his first of the season as well – to spark a 4-0 victory.
“I am super happy with how I returned to the team” Edelman said. “(I) got the goal, which was obviously fantastic. I hope that I can add a few more to the rest of the season.”
As for the rest of the season, Edelman plans to continue implementing his leadership skills he developed from captaining the U.S. U-20s into his play with New York. The academy product values the idea of being vocal on and off the pitch, and being someone his teammates can count on.
“With the U-20s, I am actually one of the older guys on the team,” Edelman added. “I have a huge leadership role there. How can I also have one here, and take responsibility and accountability to make the guys around me better? Be vocal and be positive, that’s what I want to continue to improve on because there needs to be that voice on the field. It’s obviously going to be Sean Nealis, he is our captain. But (it’s also) how can the guys around him support him when he needs it.”
Moving forward in the 2023 MLS campaign, the Red Bulls remain on the cusp of the playoff line. With the club’s momentum rocking back and forward all season, the midfielder wants to raise his play in any way possible.
"Right now, we are turning it around. We are going to get momentum going again, and I am super excited because the ultimate goal is make a run to make playoffs and make a run for the MLS Cup. I think you win a few games in MLS and it can really turn around,” Edelman concluded.
With leadership experience on the global stage under his belt, the vision is as clear as it’s ever been for Daniel Edelman, and the midfielder has every intention to achieve all of his goals.
