Oct. 20 – The U.S. opened its U-17 Women’s World Cup campaign with a 17-0 demolition of Samoa on Monday, a record-breaking result that offered a pretty brutal illustration of the resources now behind the American women’s game.
Ten different players scored in Salé, Morocco, with Maddie DiMaria scoring six, the most by any player in a single U17 Women’s World Cup match. The U.S. was down nine at halftime, had 58 shots and recorded the biggest win at any FIFA Women’s World Cup, across all age groups.
US Soccer has spent the last few years substantially expanding the infrastructure under its national teams. Its new Arthur M. Blank National Training Center outside Atlanta opened in May as the permanent home of the 27 U.S. national teams, featuring advanced performance, sports science and recovery facilities.
Atlanta United owner Arthur Blank contributed $50 million to the project, with additional women-specific support from Michele Kang, owner of OL Lyonnes and the London City Lionesses.
At the youth level, the federation has also expanded its identification program. Three U14 girls’ regional camps were held this year with 80 players each, before 62 were selected for a national camp, while separate U15 and U16 teams toured the new training facility.
Trade money follows suit. Volkswagen renewed its US Soccer partnership earlier this month with increased investment in all 27 national teams and a specific commitment to improving access for young women and girls, with the US poised to grow as a world leader in this department.
In this context, Samoa encountered the full depth of the system.
DiMaria opened the scoring after just 63 seconds and made it four before halftime. Loradana Paletta and Carolina Reyna scored twice, while Mia Corona, Grace Murray, Amari Manning, Deus Stanislaus, Isa Ortiz, Meila Brewer and Gianna Hanf also found the back of the net.
The U.S. is now undefeated in six U17 World Cup games and faces Kenya on Thursday.
For Samoa, making only their second appearance in the tournament, the loss highlighted the huge differences that remain between women’s soccer programs operating at opposite ends of the development spectrum.
The United States has the player base, commercial support, and infrastructure to identify girls nationally and move them through highly funded, professionalized age-group programs.
On Monday, that advantage showed on the scoreboard in a way the FIFA record books won’t forget.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at (email protected)
