USA U-17 Women's National Team Dominates Ecuador in 2025 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Opener
The U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team kicked off the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup with an impressive 3-0 victory against Ecuador. Meila Brewer, Nyanya Touray, and Lauren Malsom all found the back of the net in the first half. China PR also secured a dominant 5-0 win over Norway in the other Group C match, placing the USA in second position in the group standings. The United States is set to face China PR next on Tuesday, Oct. 21, and will conclude the group stage against Norway on Friday, Oct. 24.
This edition of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup features 24 nations, an increase from the 16 teams in previous tournaments. The competition is being held in Morocco for the first time, marking the beginning of a five-year hosting cycle in the country. The top two teams from each of the six groups, along with the four best third-place finishers, will advance to the Round of 16 knockout stage.
Ecuador, making only its second appearance in the tournament, displayed early energy but was outmatched by the U.S. team. The Americans dominated the shot count, registering 22 shots compared to Ecuador's 11. The USA took the lead early in the game when Meila Brewer scored from a corner kick served by Scottie Antonucci in the 19th minute.
The U.S. team continued to apply pressure, with Maddie DiMaria hitting the crossbar in the 22nd minute. Nyanya Touray extended the lead in the 41st minute by tapping in a rebound after DiMaria's shot was saved by the Ecuadorian goalkeeper. Lauren Malsom added a third goal just before halftime, securing a commanding lead for the USA.
Despite several attempts in the second half, the U.S. team was unable to add to their tally. Evan O’Steen, the USA goalkeeper, earned her fifth shutout in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. The final score remained 3-0 in favor of the United States, with the three first-half goals proving to be decisive.
In conclusion, the U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team delivered a strong performance in their opening match of the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, securing a convincing 3-0 victory over Ecuador. The team will look to build on this success in their upcoming matches against China PR and Norway as they aim to advance to the knockout stage of the tournament.