Spain U17 WNT – Women's Soccer Express

U-17 USWYNT: The USA should be in Pot 1 for the draw of the 2025 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup

Last weekend, the United States, along with Mexico, Canada, and Costa Rica, all qualified for this year’s FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup. Those four Concacaf teams joined seven other teams that have already qualified, including the host of this year’s FIFA U-17 WWC, Morocco. Thirteen more slots remain to be filled from three confederations: CAF (Africa), CONMEBOL (South America), and UEFA (Europe).

Assuming that FIFA continues to use the same ranking methodology for this year’s tournament as it has for the past few U-17 WWCs, the USA should have either the fourth-highest or third-highest seeding coefficient, which would put the USA in the first pot of the draw that will determine the groups for this year’s FIFA U-17 WWC. Only one of the 26 teams that are still alive in qualifying, Spain, will have a higher seeding coefficient for the draw than the USA.

The primary advantage of being in Pot 1 is that the USA will not face any of the other Pot 1 teams, such as Korea DPR and Spain, until at least the Round of Sixteen, should the USA advance out of its group. However, the USA could still end up with a difficult group due to the nature of the ranking system and the distribution of teams from each confederation.

U-17 WWC 2024: The USA claims Third, O’Steen wins Golden Glove, Fuller takes home the Silver Boot, Korea DPR triumphs again

On Sunday, the 2024 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup came to a close with the Third-Place Match and Final both being played on the same day. In the earlier match, the USA blanked England via a 3-nil scoreline that could have easily been more lopsided against the Young Lionesses.

Meanwhile, in the final, Spain looked to have the advantage over Korea DPR, at least in the first half. Spain briefly went ahead in the second half, but Korea DPR equalized a few minutes later. With the score level at the end of regulation, the match went straight to penalties, and Korea DPR prevailed 4:3.

As their Under-20 counterparts did in September, the Under-17 United States Women’s Youth National Team took home bronze medals. Two USA players also received individual tournament awards: Evan O’Steen was given the Golden Glove as the best goalkeeper, and Kennedy Fuller earned the Silver Boot as one of the top goalscorers.

Korea DPR won their third FIFA U-17 WWC title, after previously winning the inaugural edition in 2008 and again in 2016. This is also the second time that Korea DPR has won both the U-17 WWC and U-20 WWC in the same year, having previously done that feat in 2016, and was prevented from doing so in 2008 by the USA. Only one other country, Spain in 2022 has also won both FIFA women’s youth tournaments in the same year.

U-17 WWC 2024: The USA will face England in the Third-Place Match, Spain advances to the Final

In the second semifinal of the 2024 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup, there was no treat for England on Halloween night.

U-17 WWC 2024: Quarterfinals, Day 2 — England reaches the semifinals for the first time, will face Spain

The Young Lionesses of England have advanced to the semifinals of a FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup for the first time after besting Japan on penalties. This is the third time in a row that Japan has exited at the quarterfinal stage of a U-17 WWC, after winning the tournament in 2014 and finishing as runner-up in 2016.

England will face Spain in their semifinal, which will be a rematch of the 2024 UEFA Women’s Under-17 Championship final that was won 4-nil by Spain.

In Sunday’s earlier quarterfinal, Ecuador held Spain scoreless for the first third of the match, but then Pau Comendador netted a straight hat trick and Celia Segura added a stoppage time brace to give the European champions a 5-nil victory.

U-17 WWC 2024: Match Day 3A — Highlights and Final Group Standings

With all three of its group stage matches in the books, the USA are through to the quarterfinals of the 2024 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup following a 5-nil victory over Korea Republic.

In the other Group B match, Colombia took an early lead over Spain when Isabella Diaz collected a loose ball from a Spain player who slipped on a worn section of the pitch, dribbled toward goal and sent a low shot beyond goalkeeper Ziara Vega who could only partially deflect the ball with an outstretched hand. Spain would equalize in the second half from the penalty spot. Then, with about 30 minutes to go in regulation, Diaz slapped a Spain player on her upper chest and was sent off following a video support review. The match remain tied until about 15 seconds before the clock hit 90:00.

In Group A action, Nigeria, who like Spain, were already guaranteed to advance, struggled to score against the host, Dominican Republic. Of Nigeria’s 36 shots, just 3 were on target. Their breakthrough came just before the end of regulation when Shakirat Moshood’s long-range effort sailed beyond the reach of goalkeeper Jaylene Rondon.

Meanwhile, in Ecuador’s 4-nil victory over New Zealand, Caprice Chiuchiolo, who is a verbal commit for Grand Canyon University, notched a brace.

In the quarterfinals, the USA will face Nigeria for the second time in a row. In 2022, the USA fell on penalties to Nigeria, who ended up finishing third. The USA-Nigeria quarterfinal match will be on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. EDT.

Spain will play Ecuador on Sunday. That match will also kick off at 3:30 p.m. EDT

U-17 WWC 2024: Match Day 2A — Highlights and Group Standings Plus Advancement Scenarios

On the third day of group stage matches as the 2024 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup, the USA defeated Colombia 2-nil via goals from Micayla Johnson and Kennedy Fuller. Two teams, Spain and Nigeria, secured their spots in the quarterfinals round. In Group A, the hosts, Dominican Republic, kept their hopes alive with a salvaged draw against New Zealand.

Spain will be without two players for their third group stage match. In Spain’s 5-nil victory over Korea Republci, forward Alba Cerrato earned a straight red card in the final minutes of the match, after a video support review. Meanwhile, defender Irune Dorado, who was carrying a yellow card from her match against the USA, was given another yellow card just before halftime.

U-17 WWC 2024: Match Day 1A — Highlights and Group Standings

On Wednesday, October 16th, the 2024 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup kicked off in the Dominican Republic with four group stage matches.

In Group B, the USA lost 1:3 to the defending champions, Spain, but are in good shape to advance as the other Group B match, between Colombia and Korea Republic, ended in a draw, which eliminated the possibility of three teams each finishing on six points.

The hosts, Dominican Republic, which has 10 USA-based players, opened its campaign with a respectable 0:2 loss to Ecuador.

In all, three USA-based players scored on Wednesday, including two NWSL professionals: Mel Barcenas of the San Diego Wave for the USA and Casey Phair of Angel City for Korea Republic. The third goal-scorer was Colombia’s Ella Martinez, who is an academy player for USL Super League side Tampa Bay Sun and is a verbal commit for Duke University.