The United States of America might have lost the first two matches at the 2025 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship, but the American side has matched their opponents for certain minutes in the matches, including leading against Denmark after 17 minutes in their match in the preliminary round.

Despite losing against Tunisia, 26:43, and Denmark, 25:36, the USA have been pretty sharp at times, underlining the attempt of developing the sport from the base of the pyramid, with an emphasis on the younger age categories.

One month earlier, at the 2025 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship, in Poland, the USA team finished on the 26th place, after finishing 22nd at Spain 2019 in a 24-team competition and 27th at Germany/Greece 2023.

One of the members of the junior American team which competed at Poland 2025 is right back Simon Neumeier, who is also present at Egypt 2025, having scored 22 goals, despite being one of the youngest players in the team, aged only 18 years old.

“Having been part of the American team also in Poland, at the Junior World Championship, I know a thing or two about being here. But it is still an amazing feeling to play against Denmark or such fantastic teams,” says Neumeier.

The USA team’s story is even more special, with players from 10 different nationalities teaming up to play for this youth team, with Neumeier born in Germany, while others hail from Denmark, Sweden, Spain or Portugal.

“When I saw they have applications for the USA national team, I really just went there and I applied for myself because the German team is too good at this level. I'm sorry, but yeah, this is the truth,” smiles Neumeier.

“And so I applied by myself with my mom together and then they took me and I do not regret it, it has been an amazing journey, so I look forward to the future”.

Neumeier got the handball passion from his brother, whom he always followed when he was playing or going to training and started dabbling his feet into the sport, learning more and more until he got into a more professional setup.

Scoring 22 goals at the 2025 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship, where Neumeier can still play in the 2027 edition, helped the right back gain even more experience and become more confident for this edition of the IHF Men’s Youth World Championship.

So far, after the two losses against Tunisia and Denmark, Neumeier is the team’s top scorer, with 12 goals, basically scoring almost a quarter of USA’s 51 goals in the two matches.

While his overall load has been high, he still needs to improve his 46% shooting efficiency, being the go-to guy in difficult situations.

“For sure, I'm all about taking the leadership on the court, but our captain is Aaron Wolf-Bloom, who unfortunately got injured in the match against Denmark and will probably be out in the next matches. But I like this to be the leader of the team on the court, of course,” says Neumeier.

While other players in this current USA squad have been featuring in Denmark, Sweden, France or Spanish clubs, the right back has been making his first steps in handball at German outfit Frisch Auf Göppingen in the past years, while now switching at TSB Gmünd this summer.

“In the future, I hope to play in the third or second German league for starters. And of course, to play more for the United States, because this is the path I have started and I hope to follow it,” says the right back.

With the USA developing more and more and the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028, when Neumeier probably will still be too young to star for the senior team, the path towards development is there.