UNITED STATES UNDER-17 WOMEN BEAT SAMOA 17-0 IN WORLD CUP OPENER

The United States women’s under-17 team beat Samoa 17-0 in Salé, Morocco, on Monday in their opening World Cup match. The result set the largest winning margin at any age level of an 11-a-side World Cup. It surpassed Morocco’s 16-0 victory over New Caledonia at the 2025 men’s under-17 tournament. The United States led 9-0 at half-time and took 58 shots during the match. Ten United States players scored, including Maddie DiMaria, who scored six times.

DiMaria scored her first goal in the 63rd minute and became the first player to score six in a Fifa finals match since Erling Haaland scored nine at the 2019 men’s under-20 World Cup. Her total also set records for a United States player in any match and for a player in a Women’s World Cup match at any age level. Carolina Reyna and Loradana Paletta each scored twice for the United States. Samoa goalkeeper Susahna Peacock made 13 saves. United States coach Ciara Crinion said: “I’m super proud of this group.”

Samoa made their first appearance at the Women’s Under-17 World Cup last year. Fifa expanded the tournament from 16 to 24 teams in 2025, and seven teams have made their debuts over the past two editions. Fifa says the expansion forms part of its effort to prioritise youth development. It plans to stage the men’s and women’s under-17 World Cups annually through 2029. The United States are due to play Kenya in their next group match on Thursday.