U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team defeats Kenya 6-1 in World Cup group stage

SALÉ, Morocco – The U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team put together a second consecutive dominating performance in Group E at the 2026 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup, defeating Kenya, 6-1, to qualify for the Round of 16 with one group match left to play. (HIGHLIGHTS)

The USA’s win, combined with China PR’s 7-0 win over Samoa, ensured that the USA will finish no lower than second in the group, which guarantees a spot in the knockout rounds.

With spots in the Round of 16 already secured for both teams, the USA will will finish group play against China PR on Oct. 26 in Salé, Morocco (2 p.m. ET on FS2, Peacock and Telemundo Deportes) with a win or a tie giving the USA the group title. That achievement would mark just the third time in eight tournaments that the USA has won its group in this competition, with the other two coming in 2022 in India and last year in Morocco. If the USA defeats China PR, it will mark just the second time the USA has won all three group games at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, which the first occurring at last year’s tournament.

After scoring a USYNT, USWNT and FIFA Women’s World Cup record six goals in the USA’s opening game victory over Samoa, forward Maddie DiMaria picked up where she left off, scoring a first half hat trick and then adding one more, with two coming from the run of play and two from the penalty spot.

The four goals gave DiMaria 10 for this tournament, not only setting the record for most goals by a single player in a FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup tournament but also tying the record for most goals by a USWNT player in a FIFA Women’s World Cup competition at any age level.

DiMaria also became the first U.S. female player to score multiple goals in multiple games at a FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

The USA scored on its first shot of the game with DiMaria volleying home in the fifth minute off a perfect chipped cross from team captain Amari Manning, who picked up her third assist in the tournament.

Forward Carolina Reyna and midfielder Loradana Paletta set up the second goal for DiMaria, who slotted a left-footed shot into the lower right corner from just past the penalty spot in the 22^nd minute.

The USA’s third goal, which completed DiMaria’s hat trick in the 35^th minute, came from the penalty spot as she buried her kick after Paletta had been chopped down from behind in the penalty area. The spot kick was not initially awarded, but the USA utilized the Video Support System to protest the call, and it was given after review.

The fourth goal came in the same manner. This time DiMaria was taken down in the box after she’d been slipped in by Paletta. Once again there was no call, once again the USA protested via Video Support System, once again the penalty was given and once again DiMaria smashed it into the net, giving the USA a 4-0 lead in first half stoppage time.

The USA’s first goal of the second half came early as Paletta used her superb dribbling skills to weave her way through a pack of Kenya defenders before finishing from just outside the six-yard box.

Forward Gianna Hanf, who had come on for Manning at halftime, added the final goal, taking a pass inside the penalty area from Gigi Zuniga before blasting her shot of the hands of the goalkeeper and into the left side of the net.

Kenya picked up a consolation goal in the fifth and final minute of second half stoppage time as Lindey Atieno caught U.S. goalkeeper Kathy Long Capell off her line and drove her shot into the net from 36 yards out.

The USA outshot Kenya 24-8 and scored its five goals in 12 shots on goal.

Goal Scoring Summary:

USA – MADDIE DiMARIA (AMARI MANNING) — 5^th minute – The opening goal came when the USA worked the ball to Manning on the left. She beat a defender to the end line and clipped a short cross in the air to DiMaria, who volleyed it into the left side of the goal with the inside of her right foot from just inside the left side of the six-yard box. It was her seventh goal of the tournament, and there was more to come.

USA – MADDIE DiMARIA (LORADANA PALETTA) 22^nd minute – The USA worked the ball to Carolina Reyna on the right flank. She dribbled into the attacking third and played a square pass to Paletta, who in turn played a square pass to DiMaria near the penalty spot. DiMaria took one touch with her right foot to split two defenders and rolled a left-footed shot from 11 yards out into the lower right corner, just inside the post, to tie the record (which was eight goals) for most goals by a single player in a single FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup tournament.

USA – MADDIE DiMARIA (PENALTY KICK) 35^th minute – DiMaria completed her hat trick from the penalty spot, finishing smartly after Loradana Paletta had been taken down in the box. The goal was a historic one, setting the record, for now, for most goals ever (nine) by a single player in a FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

USA – MADDIE DiMARIA (PENALTY KICK) 45 + 2^nd minute – DiMaria herself was taken down in the penalty box this time. After a Video Support System review awarded the penalty kick, DiMaria stepped up to bury her fourth goal of the half, her second penalty kick in a 13-minute span, and her 10^th goal of the tournament.

USA – LORADANA PALETTA (MADDIE MAVES) 48^th minute – Paletta took a threaded pass from Maves about 35 yards from goal, turned and dribbled through the center of the Kenya defense all the way to the top of the six-yard box before cooly rolling her shot into the lower left corner from eight yards out.

USA – GIANNA HANF (GIGI ZUNIGA) 90+3^rd minute – The USA’s final goal came in stoppage time as Zuniga played a crisp pass into the penalty area for the cutting Hanf, who took a touch and then pounded her right-footed shot off the goalkeeper’s hands and into the left side of the net from 12 yards out.

KENYA – LINDEY ATIENO 90+ 5^th minute – In the final minute of second half stoppage time, Lindey Atieno stole the ball from U.S. outside back Kendra Hansen near midfield in her attacking half, took a few dribbles and then saw U.S. goalkeeper Kathy Long Capell out of her goal. Atieno struck a shot from 36-yards out that flew over the U.S. ‘keeper for a consolation goal.  

Additional Notes:

• Head coach Ciara Crinion made four changes to the starting XI from the opening Group E match, inserting Kathy Long Capell in goal, Maddie Maves and Gigi Zuniga on the back line and Carolina Reyna on the right wing, moving Maddie DiMaria into center forward position.
• Maves and Zuniga made their first FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup appearances. Both picked up their first assists in the tournament and first of their U-17 WNT careers.
• Maddie DiMaria now has 11 career U-17 WWC goals, which is also a U.S. record, having played in last year’s tournament and scored one goal.
• DiMaria’s 10 goals at this tournament tie a USYNT, USWNT and FIFA Women’s World Cup record for most goals by a player at any level in a FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament. Michelle Akers scored 10 for the USWNT at the 1991 FIFA Women’s World Cup in China PR. DiMaria could break the record against China PR if she scores in the USA’s final group match.
• DiMaria now has 22 goals in 20 caps at the U-17 level. Hawaii native Sunshine Fontes holds the record for most career goals for a U.S. female player at the U-17 level with 24 and most in one calendar year with 22. DiMaria has 21 goals in 2026 and one in 2025.
• With her four goals on the night, DiMaria became the first U.S. female player to score multiple goals in multiple games at a FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
• DiMaria’s third goal broke the record for most goals by a single player in a single FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup tournament which now sits at 10 goals.
• The record for most career FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup goals is held by Yu Jong-Hyang of Korea DPR who has 12 and is currently active in this tournament, having scored eight goals at the 2025 FIFA U-17 WWC and four goals in her two matches so far. North Korea’s Kim Won-Sim has 11 career FIFA U-17 WWC goals and four in this tournament so far. Currently, DiMaria has 11 career FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup goals.
• DiMaria now has 22 goals in 20 caps at the U-17 level. Sunshine Fontes holds the record for most career goals for a female U.S. player at the U-17 level with 24 and most in one calendar year with 22. DiMaria has 21 goals in 2026 and one in 2025.
• Loradana Paletta’s goal gave her three for the tournament and upped her career U-17 goals to eight in 18 caps.
• Gianna Hanf tallied second goal of the tournament and her fourth career goal at the U-17 level in 11 caps.

– U.S. WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT –

Match: United States Under-17 Women’s National Team vs. Kenya U-17 WNT
Date: Oct. 22, 2026
Competition: 2026 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup — Group E
Venue: Mohammed VI Football Complex; Salé, Morocco
Attendance: 279
Kickoff: 6 p.m. ET
Weather: 67 degrees, cloudy

Lineups: 
USA: 21-Kathy Long Capell; 2-Gigi Zuniga, 3-Maddie Maves, 5-Meila Brewer, 13-Venina Moodie (4-Kendra Hansen, 31); 16-Grace Murray (18-Jordyn Heathcock, 82), 8-Loradana Paletta, 10-Mia Corona (20-Isa Ortiz, 64); 17-Carolina Reyna, 7-Maddie DiMaria (9-Deus Stanislaus, 82), 11-Amari Manning (Capt.) (19-Gianna Hanf, 46)

Substitutes not used: 1-Avellina Saunders, 6-Anaiah Williams, 12-Alexis Fischer, 14-Jordyn Sullivan, 15-Cassie Travers

Head Coach: Ciara Crinion 

KEN: 1-Mishel Oyoko; 10-Fleviah Khatenje, 15-Bevarline Otieno (Capt.), 20-Brenda Awuor (4-Daisy Adongo, 64), 12-Grace Mumo; 11-Mwanakombo Bakari, 3-Joan Orwa. (5-Peninah Fostine, 76), 19-Noelina Akuku, 6-Gaudancia Maloba (17-Emily Mbuya, 64); 7-Elizabeth Achieng (8-Lindey Atieno, 34), 9-Brenda Achieng (14-Tabitha Wambui, 64)

Substitutes not used: 2-Ruth Barasa, 13-Pauline Namisi, 16-Vallary Achieng, 18-Martha Wekhomba, 21-Beryl Awuor

Head coach: Mildred Cheche

Stats Summary: USA / KEN
Shots: 23 / 8
Shots on Goal: 12 / 4
Saves: 3 / 6
Corner Kicks: 8 / 1
Fouls: 4 / 10
Offside: 1 / 1

Misconduct Summary:  
KEN – Brenda Awuor (Caution)              45+1^st minute

Officials:   
Referee: Hyeonjeong Oh (KOR)
AR1: Suwida Wongkraisorn (THA)
AR2: Ramina Tsoi (KGZ)
4^th Official: Lara Lee (AUS)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Nuannid Donjangreed (THA)