Tournament Notes: U.S. Under-17 WNT Ready for Second FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Featuring 24 Nations
U.S. faces Samoa, Kenya and China PR in Group E
USA OPENS 2026 FIFA U-17 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP AGAINST SAMOA: The U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team opens the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup on Monday, Oct. 19 – the third matchday of the tournament – against Samoa, which qualified as runners-up in the 2025 OFC Women's Under-17 Championship. Samoa lost 3-0 in its Confederation championship game to New Zealand, but with the OFC getting two berths to this World Cup, making it to the final was enough to earn Samoa a spot in this World Cup — their second at this level. The match will be played at the Women’s Football Complex in Salé, Morocco, with a 2 p.m. ET kick-off on Fox Sports 2 (FS2). The USA Group E opponents also include Kenya and China PR. The USA will take on the Junior Starlets on Oct. 22 (1 p.m. ET on FS2) at the Women’s Football Complex before finishing group play against the young Steel Roses on Oct. 25 at (1 p.m. ET on FS2) at the Women’s Football Complex. All three matches will be played on Pitch 3 at the Complex. Fans can follow the U-17 WNT through the tournament on ussoccer.com, Facebook, Twitter/X (@USYNT) and Instagram (@USYNT).
2026 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup
Group E – USA Schedule
| Date | Match | Kickoff (ET) | Venue; City | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 19 | USA vs. Samoa | 2 p.m. | Mohammed VI Football Complex; Salé, Morocco | FS2, Universo, Peacock |
| Oct. 22 | USA vs. Kenya | 2 p.m. | Mohammed VI Football Complex; Salé, Morocco | FS2, Peacock, Telemundo Deportes |
| Oct. 25 | USA vs. China PR | 2 p.m. | Mohammed VI Football Complex; Salé, Morocco | FS2, Peacock, Telemundo Deportes |
Goalkeepers (3): Alexis Fischer (Eclipse Select SC; Chicago, Ill.; 3), Kathy Long Capell (Crossfire Premier SC; Woodinville, Wash.; 1), Avellina Saunders (Utah Royals FC Arizona; Phoenix, Ariz.; 6)
Defenders (7): Meila Brewer (Dallas Trinity FC; Overland Park, Kan.; 15/1), Kendra Hansen (Pateadores SC; Tustin, Calif.; 9/0), Maddie Maves (Crossfire Premier SC; Seattle, Wash.; 9/0), Venina Moodie (De Anza Force SC; Oakland, Calif.; 8/0), Cassie Travers (Gotham FC U-18; Santa Cruz, Calif.; 1/0), Anaiah Williams (Eclipse Select SC; Glendale Heights, Ill.; 10/0), Gigi Zuniga (Mountain View Los Altos SC; Watsonville, Calif.; 9/0)
Midfielders (5): Mia Corona (UCLA; Cypress, Calif.; 9/2), Jordyn Heathcock (FC Dallas; Edmond, Okla.; 8/1), Grace Murray (Beach FC; Redondo Beach, Calif.; 8/1), Isa Ortiz (Florida United SC; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; 3/0), Loradana Paletta (New York City FC; Syosset, N.Y.; 16/5)
Forwards (6): Maddie DiMaria (St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri; Fenton, Mo.; 18/12), Gianna Hanf (Match Fit Surf; Chesterfield, N.J.; 9/2), Amari Manning (UNC; Flemington, N.J.; 12/6), Carolina Reyna (FC Westlake; Austin, Texas; 5/0), Deus Stanislaus (UNC; Fort Washington, Pa.; 12/9), Jordyn Sullivan (Match Fit Surf; Rumson, N.J.; 5/0)
WATCH FIFA U-20 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP ON FOX: All of the USA’s group stage matches will be broadcast live on the FOX family of networks. Each of the 52 matches of the tournament will be broadcast on either FOX Soccer Plus or FS2, with 28 matches on FSP (20 group stage, 12 knockout), and 24 on FS2 (16 group stage, eight knockout). All the games will be available online at FOXsports.com and the FOX Sports App with corresponding authentication. The U.S. matches will also be available in Spanish on Universo, Peacock and or Telemundo Deportes.
RUN-UP TO MOROCCO: The USA has had a solid preparation schedule leading into this World Cup, compiling a record of 8W-2L-2D over 2026, with eight of those matches coming against teams that will also participate in this World Cup. As the U-17 Women’s World Cup is now an annual event, the Concacaf qualifying tournament was played this spring. Fourteen of the 21 players on this roster were a part of the roster for Concacaf qualifying. Over the preparation matches, the USA scored 57 goals and allowed 11 against 11 different countries: Bermuda, Haiti and Puerto Rico in Concacaf qualifying and then World Cup preparation matches against Germany, Denmark, Wales, Morocco, Japan, Mexico, Chile and Canada.
THE USWNT IN MOROCCO FOR JUST THE SECOND TIME: This U-17 Women’s World Cup marks just the second time any U.S. Women’s National Team will play matches in the country – the first time coming when Morocco hosted the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup last year. The senior USWNT has never played Morocco while the U.S. U-20 WNT has done so just once and the U-17 WNT has played Morocco twice. The U.S. U-20 WNT faced Morocco at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup on Sept. 4, winning the match 2-0. The U.S. U-17 WNT played Morocco at the 2022 U-17 FIFA Women’s World Cup, winning 4-0, and again at this 2026 MIMA Cup, a friendly tournament in Spain where the U.S. won 5-0 on Feb. 12.
BUILDING THE U.S. ROSTER: For the third time, the U.S. roster for a FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup will feature at least one professional player. This year’s squad features just one in defender Meila Brewer, who recently left the Kansas City Current of the NWSL to sign with Dallas Trinity FC of the USL Super League. Brewer played one season UCLA (2025) where she started eight of her nine games due to her participating in last year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. The 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup was the first time professionals played for the USA in this tournament.
Players born on or after Jan. 1, 2009, are age-eligible for this World Cup. U.S. head coach Ciara Crinion chose 16 players born in 2009, four born in 2010 and one, Loradana Paletta, born in 2011. Fifteen players will be 17 years old at the start of the World Cup tournament, and three will be 16. The three who will be 15 years old are Paletta, goalkeeper Avellina Saunders and defender Gigi Zuniga. Those three, as well as the two other players born in 2010 – Cassie Travers and Isa Ortiz – are age-eligible for next year’s 2027 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
MAJOR TOURNAMENT EXPERIENCE: Crinion named 14 players who were part of the U.S. team that finished atop the group at the Final Round of the 2026 Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Qualifiers to earn a berth to this World Cup. Brewer and forward Maddie DiMaria are the only players on the roster who also played in the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup when the USA went out on penalty kicks in the Round of 16, falling 7-6 in a dramatic shootout to the Netherlands after a 1-1 tie in regulation time.
ROSTER NOTES
CRINION AT THE HELM: This will be the first World Cup for U.S. head coach Ciara Crinion, who came to U.S. Soccer after spending more than ten years coaching in the NCAA. She works closely with entire U.S. Soccer coaching staff to maximize the development, evaluation and movement of players between age groups for training camps and matches. Crinion guided the U-15 WNT to the championship at the 2024 Concacaf Girls’ U-15 Championship, where the U.S. won its fourth-straight title at this age level. At that Concacaf championship, which was held in Costa Rica, the USA outscored its opponents 31-1 and defeated Mexico, 3-0, in the title game. It was the USA’s first Concacaf U-15 championship won outside the USA. Seven players on this U-17 WWC team played for Crinion in that U-15 tournament: Meila Brewer, Mia Corona, Loradana Paletta, Deus Stanislaus, Maddie DiMaria, Amari Manning and Carolina Reyna. Crinion also served as an assistant coach for the senior USWNT during the period in which Twila Kilgore was interim USWNT head coach, before Emma Hayes came on board, and helped the U.S. to win the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup and 2024 SheBelieves Cup.
24 TEAMS VIE FOR 10th U-17 TITLE: This year marks the 10th edition of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, The U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team has participated in seven of the nine U-17 Women’s World Cups that have been staged since FIFA began holding the competition for this age group in 2008. The USA finished the first tournament in 2008 as runner-up to Korea DPR after a 2-1 overtime loss in the final. Four years later in 2012, having missed out on the 2010 edition of the tournament, the U-17s returned to the competition, only to be eliminated in group play despite finishing level on points with eventual champion France and runner-up Korea DPR. The U.S. U-17s did not qualify for the 2014 competition but returned for the 2016 event in Jordan. At the first Women’s World Cup to be held in the Middle East, the USA won its first group game but lost its next two matches and did not qualify for the knockout rounds. In 2018 in Uruguay, the USA started fast but dropped its next two group games and did not advance. In 2020, the Concacaf U-17 Women’s Championship was not played due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which was also the reason for the eventual cancellation of the FIFA Under-17 FIFA Women’s World Cup in India. India was awarded by the hosting rights by FIFA for the 2022 tournament at which the USA put on an impressive performance, winning its group before falling in penalty kicks in the quarterfinal. In 2024 in the Dominican Republic, the USA made a triumphant return to the podium, placing third, its best finish since 2008. Last year, the U.S. fell in the Round of 16 to the Netherlands after a 1-1 draw went to penalty kicks. Both teams were perfect through six, but the U.S. missed its seventh attempt.
THE VENUES: The 52 matches of this tournament will take place at two sites in the same metropolitan areas: The Women’s Football Complex in Salé, Morocco will host all the matches except the Bronze Medal Final and the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Final. Those two matches will be held at Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium.
2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Groups
| Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D | Group E | Group F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morocco | Korea DPR | Brazil | Japan | USA | Australia |
| Germany | Nigeria | Canada | Venezuela | China PR | Chile |
| Argentina | Poland | Ghana | France | Samoa | Mexico |
| New Zealand | Puerto Rico | Norway | Zambia | Kenya | Spain |
HOW WE GOT HERE: CONCACAF QUALIFYING IN COSTA RICA: The USA qualified for the 2026 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup at the Final Round of the 2026 Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Qualifying in Costa Rica. The USA handily won its group, defeating Bermuda, 19-0, Haiti, 9-0, and Puerto Rico, 4-0. Those results won the group handily and with that finish, the U.S. clinched a spot in the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. The U.S. outscored its opponents 32-0 over the entire tournament. Deus Stanislaus led the scoring with six goals and one assist. The only person with more contributions was Maddie DiMaria who had eight (three goals and five assists). Mia Corona had two goals and four assists while Amari Manning had two of each. Forward Gianna Hanf had one goal and five assists. There were two more multi-score contributors on that roster who are also on the World Cup roster in midfielder Loradana Paletta who scored two goals and had two assists and midfielder Jordyn Heathcock who had one goal and two assists.
U.S. U-17 WNT A SPRINGBOARD TO SENIOR WNT: The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup has been a launching point for many players who have gone on to represent the full USWNT and many more who have played professionally. In fact, 22 different players who have played in a FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup for the USA have gone on to earn at least one cap for the senior side (although several players played in multiple youth World Cups). From the USA’s 2018 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup Team, Trinity Rodman went on to the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team and 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Team members Naomi Girma and Sophia Smith, now Wilson, joined her along with 2008 FIFA U-17 WWC player Crystal Dunn. 2012 FIFA U-17 WWC goalkeeper Jane Campbell served as an alternate player for the 2024 Olympics. Dunn, Girma, Rodman, Wilson, 2012 FIFA U-17 WWC player Andi Sullivan and 2016 FIFA U-17 WWC player Ashley Sanchez all appeared on the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup roster for the U.S. From the 2022 FIFA U-27 WWC Team, three players have already earned caps with the USWNT: Jordyn Bugg, Gisele Thompson and Riley Jackson.
From 2008-2022, an average of 4.4 players per U.S. U-17 World Cup Team have gone on to represent the full USWNT, which represents about 21% of each roster.
From the USA’s 2022 FIFA U-17 WWC Team, Jordyn Bugg, Riley Jackson and Gisele Thompson went on to earn USWNT caps.
The 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Team featured Trinity Rodman, Mia Fishel and Sam Meza. As well as Trinity Byars who just was called into her first senior team camp.
USWNT players Naomi Girma, Jaelin Howell, Izzy Rodriguez, Ashley Sanchez, Sophia Smith (now Wilson), Kennedy Wesley and Kate Weisner all played for the U.S. at the 2016 U-17 FIFA Women’s World Cup, making it the U-17 WWC with the most players to earn senior team caps thus far with seven.
In 2012, Jane Campbell, Midge Purce and Andi Sullivan were on the U-17 Women’s World Cup Team.
FIFA World Cup champions Morgan Gautrat, Crystal Dunn and Samantha Mewis played on the 2008 U-17 Women’s World Cup team along with Samantha’s sister Kristie Mewis and Erika Tymrak.
U.S. U-17 WNT vs. SAMOA:
U.S. U-17 WNT vs. KENYA:
U.S. U-17 WNT vs. CHINA PR:
Goalkeepers (3): Susahna Peacock (Blacktown Spartans FC; AUS), Foaiina Malae (Vaivase-Tai FC), Peytton Visan (Eastern Suburbs FC; AUS)
Defenders (10): Amaija George (La Roca FC; USA), Breanna Kitiona (AJAX Utah FC; USA), Micayla Elika (Unattached), Jazz Sutherland (Unattached), Makeli Leonard (LAFC So Cal Youth; USA), Selei Misa (Long Beach State; USA), Isabella Sibbett (Unattached), Taliyah Taaga (Leahi Soccer Club; USA), Adesina Afereti (SD Raiders FC; USA), Reyna Tufuga (Beach FC; USA)
Midfielders (4): Cali Willis (LFC International Academy; USA), Taimane Devoux (Unattached), Isela Laban (Unattached), Brooklyn Leilua (LA Surf SC; USA)
Forwards (4): Brooklyn Leaupepe-Nickel (Auckland United FC; NZL), Tovah Auva’a (Phoenix Rising FC; USA), Kennedy Corkin (Unattached), Jayde Eldredge-Sagapolutele (Leahi Soccer Club; USA)
Goalkeepers (3): Mishel Okoyo (Wiyeta Queens), Vallary Achieng (Nyakach Girls), Martha Wekhomba (Nasokol Queens)
Defenders (5): Ruth Barasa (Wiyeta Queens), Daisy Adongo (Gideons Starlets FC), Grace Mumo (Madira Soccer Assassins), Pauline Namisi (Desert Scorpions WFC), Bevarline Awuor (Mathare United WFC)
Midfielders (8): Gaudancia Maloba (Lwak Girls), Lindey Atieno (Sunflower Academy), Fleviah Khatenje (The Royal Panthers), Mwanakombo Bakari (Kombani Queens), Tabitha Wambui (Madira Soccer Assassins), Noelina Akuku (Butere Girls), Brenda Awuor (Madira Soccer Assassins), Beryl Awuor (Nyakach Girls)
Forwards (5): Joan Orwa (Butere Girls), Peninah Fostine (Butere Girls), Elizabeth Achieng (Onding JSS Girls), Brenda Achieng (Kakamega Hill JSS Girls), Emilly Mbuya (Nyakach Girls)
Goalkeepers (3): NIU Ziqi (Shandong JingHua WFC), BAI Shuiling (Shanghai Shengli WFC), YU Qianna (Yancheng Football Sports Training Center)
Defenders (8): DENG Jingjie (Sichuan WFC), LIU Yuchen (Sichuan WFC), YANG Yuxhan (Suzhou Taihu FC), CAI Xinlin (Shanghai Shengli WFC), LI Yaqi (Sichuan WFC), LIU Yuke (Gangzhuo Yangcheng Football Training Center), ZHAO Jiayi (Shaanxi Zhidan WFC), XU Yue (Shanghai Shengli WFC)
Midfielders (7): XU Xiaotang (Suzhou Taihu FC), YANG Yuhan (Shanghai Shengli WFC), YANG Lan (Sichuan WFC), HE Hanruo (Suzhou Taihu WFC), ZHAO Siqing (Suzhou Taihu WFC), CHENG Wandi (Shanghai Shengli WFC), HU Cuiping (Shenzhen 2028 FC)
Forwards (3): LIU Yuxi (Sichuan WFC), WU Yichen (Nanjing Football School), FANG Zhenzhu (Shenzhen 2028 FC)
FOOTBALL VIDEO SUPPORT: A fairly new system to review decisions on goals, penalty kicks, red card incidents and cases of mistaken identity will be used during the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. There will be no Video Assistant Referee automatically checking incidents/decisions. Nothing is automatically checked by a VAR. Instead, each head coach will have two chances to request a review, e.g. “challenge” the call, in any of the above instances should they choose to do so. Thehe coach will indicate the desire to have an incident/decision checked by twirling their finger in the air and then giving a “review card” to the fourth official, followed by an explanation of what the coach wants reviewed. Players may recommend the head coach to request a review, but the head coach has the final responsibility to do so. Once a “review card” is given to the fourth official, the request cannot be withdrawn. The request to review an incident/decision must be made before play is restarted once the game is stopped or the ball is out of play for the first time after the incident/decision. A player can inform the referee that they want to recommend to the head coach to request a review, and the referee will delay the restart of the game until the player can inform the head coach and the head coach has the chance to make a decision. The referee will then go to the video monitor on the sideline to review the video footage and make a decision if there was a “clear and obvious” error. If the coach “wins the challenge” they will keep that “challenge.” If they lose, they will lose that “challenge.” After a goal is scored, the fourth official will check the replay footage and inform the referee in the case of a clear and obvious offense committed by the attacking team, e.g., handball, offside, or ball out of play. Regardless of the outcome of the fourth officials' check on goals, the coach is entitled to request a review. If teams are involved in extra time in the knockout stages, each team will get an additional (third) request and any requests for reviews that a team did not use in regulation can be carried into extra time.
TOURNAMENT REGS