U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team plays Mexico to 1-1 draw in first of three August friendlies

FAYETTEVILLE, GA – The U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team drew Mexico 1-1 in the first of three matches during a training camp at the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center. Forward Amari Manning, who is a freshman at UNC, scored the lone goal for the United States from the penalty spot in the first U.S. U-17 WNT match at U.S. Soccer’s new home.

This is the final training camp for this group before U.S. head coach Ciara Crinion selects her roster for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco. This was the 10th international match of the year for U.S. U-17s, which has now compiled a record of 6W-2L-2D this year.

The two teams played an even first half with U.S. forward Maddie DiMaria creating the first dangerous chance when she drove into the box in the 16th minute. Midfielder Gabrielle Ferrero received the cross from DiMaria near the penalty spot and took a quick strike that was blocked. Ferrero had another chance that nicked the far post and was cleared, but only so far as forward Deus Stanislaus, who was waiting on the left side of the penalty spot and knocked the ball back in. Ferrero got a third attempt off the rebound from Stanislaus’s strike, but Mexico’s Ania Lopez Acuna scooped up the third attempt.

A loose ball in the 30th minute became an opportunity for Mexico. Zoé Sánchez won the ball and took a shot from outside the box that forced a brilliant save from U.S. goalkeeper Avellina Saunders, who timed her jump well and knocked the ball away.

To open the second half, the two teams continued to battle back and forth, and the U.S. earned the first dangerous opportunity of the half with a free kick in the 50th minute. Midfielder Bridget Kopmeyer took the direct shot,but the ball went right for Acuna, who made an easy save.

In the 58th, DiMaria received the ball off a throw-in from forward Carolina Reyna. DiMaria took off down the right side, got a step on the defenders and was ultimately taken down in the penalty box to earn a penalty kick. Manning, who came on at halftime, stepped up to take the penalty and buried her shot to open the scoring.

Mexico capitalized on its first dangerous moment of the second half to tie the game. In the 66th minute, Mexico won a corner kick which Sánchez took from the left and her long service found Mia Urbano Carmona at the back post. She headed the ball over Saunders’ outstretched hand to even the score.

The U.S. looked to answer back in the 72nd when defender Venina Moodie sent a long ball up to DiMaria who once again took off on the dribble with three defenders in tow. She got into the box, took two touches to clear space for herself before sending a shot towards the near post, but it was blocked.

The U.S. had a nice scoring opportunity in the 86th minute as forward Jorydn Sullivan passed to defender Kendra Hansen who found DiMaria moving up the right wing. Sullivan took off on a run up the middle and when DiMaria sent the ball through to her, she ran to the end line before crossing the ball towards Manning. Mexico defenders stepped into the cross and attempted to clear, but the U.S. midfielder Isa Ortiz got a shot off that forced another save from Acuna.

Four minutes later, midfielder Jordyn Heathcock won the ball and drove it into space for Sullivan, who chased after it, dribbled into the box and ripped a left-footed shot that Acuna, again, was able to get a hand on.

In the final minutes of stoppage time, Mexico had a great chance to break the tie, but Saunders came up with an incredible point-blank save. She then grabbed the ensuing corner kick just before the final whistle kept the game a draw.

The U.S. U-17 WNT will continue this camp through the weekend and into next week, taking on Chile on Sunday, Aug. 16 at 8 p.m. ET and Canada at 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Aug. 19.

This camp is part of the Federation’s continued focus on the U.S. Way philosophy, which emphasizes increased programming for Youth National Teams to create more opportunities for young players to advance through the pathway to the senior National Team with the goal of representing their country at a world championship.

– U.S. UNDER-17 WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT –

Match: United States U-17 Women’s National Team vs. Mexico U-17 Women’s National Team
Date: August 13, 2026
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center – Field 1; Fayetteville, Ga.
Weather: 89 degrees, cloudy

Lineups:

USA: 1-Avellina Saunders; 2-Venina Moodie, 6-Meila Brewer, 16-Anaiah Williams (13-Maddie Maves, 31), 19-Georgia Restovich (14-Kendra Hansen, 80); 4-Loradana Paletta (18-Caroline Swann, 73), 22-Bridget Kopmeyer(8-Isa Ortiz, 79), 24-Gabrielle Ferraro (20-Jordyn Heathcock, 46); 9-Maddie DiMaria, 10-Deus Stanislaus (Capt.) (7-Amari Manning, 46), 23-Carolina Reyna (11-Jordyn Sullivan, 73)

Subs not used: 12-Alexis Fischer, 21-Kathy Long Capell, 15-Cassie Travers, 5-Grace Murray, 17-Tatum Gardner

Head Coach: Ciara Crinion

MEX: 1-Ania López Acuña (12-Emiley Ríos Alba, 63); 5-Fernanda Monroy (6-Jandra Ruiz, 79), 9-Camila Campos Correa (4- Bianka Arredondo, 46), 15-Vanessa Paredes (8-Emily Delgado, 46), 16-Valeria Figueroa; 7-Citlalli Reyes (Capt.) (22-Natalia García, 64), 10-Ixchel Uscanga Beas (3-Génesis Ayón, 79), 17-Zoé Sánchez; 2-Valeria Vázquez (13-Natalia Ugalde Molina, 46), 11-Mia Urbano (20-Nicole Alexandra Jiménez, 73), 14-Kemberly Joselin García Márquez

Subs not used: 21-Camila Haro, 18-Belina Chávez Esquer,19-Delgado Loera, 19-Katia Mariel

Head Coach: Miguel Gamero

Stats Summary: USA / MEX
Shots: 16 / 11
Shots on Goal: 12 / 5
Saves: 5 / 10
Corner Kicks: 4 / 5
Fouls: 14 / 12
Offside: 4 / 0

Officials:
Referee: Lila Remache (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Lorenzo Lopez (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Shevah Rezaee (USA)
Fourth Official: Raphael Mospanyuk (USA)