USWNT

(Salé, Morocco = Won Jeong) After a dominant showing throughout the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, the United States U-17 Women’s National Team’s run came to a dramatic close in the Round of 16, falling 7–6 to the Netherlands in a tense penalty shootout after a 1–1 draw in regulation. Despite a world-class equalizer from forward Micayla Johnson and a barrage of U.S. attacks, Dutch goalkeeper Maren Groothoff delivered a heroic performance to send her side to the quarterfinals.

The Netherlands struck early in just the third minute, when winger Liv Pennock finished a through ball from Lina Touzani, slipping it past U.S. goalkeeper O’Steen for a 1–0 lead.
From that point forward, the Americans dominated possession, dictating tempo and piling on pressure.

U.S. forward Maddie DiMaria nearly leveled the score in the 24th minute with a header, and Scottie Antonucci and Nyanya Touray both came close before halftime, only to be denied by Groothoff and the woodwork.

In the second half, the U.S. attack intensified. After several near-misses, Micayla Johnson finally broke through in the 57th minute, taking a pass from Sydney Schmidt, cutting past a defender, and unleashing a stunning left-footed rocket from 28 yards into the top corner — her second goal of the tournament and one of the highlights of the competition.

Despite relentless pressure, including a 24–9 shot advantage and multiple late chances from Touray, Lauren Malsom, and captain Pearl Cecil, the U.S. could not find the winner. Cecil struck the post in stoppage time, and a header moments later was cleared off the line as the match edged toward penalty kicks.

In the decisive shootout, both teams showed remarkable composure, converting their first six attempts.
However, after Dutch player Tess Van der Vliet buried her side’s seventh shot, Groothoff saved substitute Chloe Sadler’s effort, sealing the 7–6 win for the Netherlands.

🇺🇸 A Promising Future Despite Defeat

The U.S. squad, featuring 20 of 21 players who appeared in the tournament, ends its run with pride after topping Group C and scoring 13 goals — tying the team’s record for most goals in a group stage.
Midfielder Nyanya Touray led the team with four goals, while 15-year-old Mak Whitham became the youngest U.S. player ever to score in a U-17 Women’s World Cup.

Forward Micayla Johnson, who also scored in the 2022 edition, made history as the first American to score in two consecutive FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cups.

This ninth edition of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup marks the first time the tournament has been expanded to 24 nations and the first hosted in Morocco, where it will continue for the next four years.
While the U.S. fell short of advancing, the team’s performance — marked by creativity, intensity, and youthful talent — cements its place among the world’s elite youth programs.