LA LONDE-LES-MAURES, France — The youth of American soccer is moving on to a World Cup under-20 age group final in Turkey this month that will feature neither Brazil nor Argentina.

That in itself is exceptional. This tournament represents a transition between boys and men, and the two giants of South American soccer had hogged 11 of the 18 titles since the start in 1977. But the road ahead gets no easier for the United States. Its first game, in Istanbul on June 21, is against Spain, the current world champion at the senior level. After that comes France and then Ghana, the 2009 World U-20 champion.

“We’re thinking Spain, Spain, Spain,” said Tab Ramos, the head coach of the U.S. team. “I want,” he added, “to win this cup.”

A simple desire, an enormous undertaking. Ramos was born in Uruguay, but blossomed at St. Benedict’s preparatory school in Newark, New Jersey, where his family settled when he was 11. He was, without question, one of the finest players in the United States, possibly too good for some of the teams he represented from World U-20 selection upward.