The United States under-17 women's national team launched its 2026 World Cup campaign with a record-breaking 17-0 victory over Samoa in Rabat, Morocco. The win, achieved on October 19, 2026, marks the largest margin of victory in World Cup history at any level, surpassing Morocco’s 16-0 win over New Caledonia in the 2023 men’s U-17 tournament. Ten different U.S. players scored, highlighting the team’s depth and offensive firepower.
Forward Maddie Di Maria led the charge with six goals, becoming the first player in FIFA World Cup history—men’s or women’s—to score six in a single match. She also became the first to achieve six goals in a FIFA women’s World Cup match at any level. Di Maria praised Norway’s Erling Haaland as an inspiration, referencing his nine-goal performance at the 2019 U-20 World Cup.
The U.S. built a 9-0 halftime lead, tying Germany’s 2010 record for first-half goals, and fired 58 shots over 90 minutes. Other goal scorers included Carolina Reyna, Loradana Paletta (two each), and Mia Corona, Grace Murray, Amari Manning, Deus Stanislaus, Isa Ortiz, Melia Brewer, and Gianna Hanf. Coach Ciara Crinion emphasized the team’s focus on recovery and preparation ahead of their next Group E match against Kenya, who lost 3-0 to China PR in their opener.
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing