USA falls to China 3-2 in Group E finale at FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup

SALÉ, Morocco– The U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team fell to China PR, 3-2, in the final Group E match for both teams at the 2026 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup. (HIGHLIGHTS)

Coming into the game, the USA and China PR had already secured spots in the knockout round, but with the loss, the USA fell to second in the group and will now face Group F winners Spain in the Round of 16 on Oct. 29 at 2 p.m. ET.

The USA outshot China 20-12 and had more than double China’s expected goals (2.34 to 0.94) but put only four shots on goal while China’s finishing on all three of its goals was superb. China’s compact defense, with a high back line and low front line, gave the USA little space to play and with the early goal, those tactics proved effective. The Steel Roses get credit for some excellent team defense, but with the lead for almost the entire match, they were content to sit back, close the spaces, win balls and launch counter attacks.

The USA had a massive edge in possession – 72% to 28% – but China was tremendously efficient on the night to claim the victory and a match with Group D runners-up France in the Round of 16.

U.S. forward Amari Manning, who was consistently dangerous on the left wing, put the ball in the net in the fifth minute but was ruled offside, a call that was confirmed by the Video Support System. Off the ensuring free kick, China PR goalkeeper Niu Ziqi smashed her service far over the midfield line. The ball took a big bounce over the U.S. back line and into the path of Liu Yuxi, who raced in at goal and finished well, tucking her shot just inside the left post from the right corner of the six-yard box. It was the first time the Americans had been behind and now they would chase the game for 90-plus minutes.

A committed U.S. side came out strong in the second half, but U.S. goalkeeper Avellina Saunders had to keep the score at 1-0 with a big diving save in the 57th minute off a well-struck shot from Fang Zhenzhu.

The USA pushed hard for an equalizer – Manning’s shot from the left side of the penalty area was deflected over the crossbar by a retreating defender and in the 66th Niu did well to corral a dangerous cross from Maddie DiMaria without giving up a rebound – and in the 69th minute the USA tied it.

Manning did a great job on the left wing to work herself free from two defenders to make room for a cross and flighted her service to the post for DiMaria, who headed down and in from close range to tie the game.

Unfortunately for the USA, China answered right back, as Wu Yichen sped down the left wing and cut a pass to Zhao Jiayi in the middle of the box. She took a touch to her right and spun her shot into the lower right corner from 13 yards out past the diving Saunders.

With plenty of time to get another equalizer and win the group, the USA continued to push, but it was China who got the next goal, a brilliant individual effort from Liu to earn her a brace.

With six minutes of stoppage time given, and an eventual 11 minutes played, the USA pulled a goal back at 90+7 through substitute Isa Ortiz but could not produce another and will now face a Spain team that won all three of its group games, beating Chile, Mexico and Australia.

Goal Scoring Summary:

CHN – LIU YUXI (NIU ZIQI) 7th minute – Just seconds after the U.S. goal was disallowed, the China PR free kick from just in front of its six-yard box flew over the U.S. midfield, bounced over the U.S. back line and into the path of the sprinting Liu, who outraced U.S. defender Kendra Hansen into the penalty area and cut her shot into the lower left corner from just outside the right corner of the six-yard box.

USA – MADDIE DiMARIA (AMARI MANNING) 69th minute – Manning dribbled well to work herself free from two defenders on the left wing to make room for a cross and sent a spinning service to the far post for DiMaria, who headed down and in from close range to tie the game. It was her record-breaking 11th goal of the tournament.

CHN – ZHAO JIAYI (WU YICHEN) 71st minute – Wu sped down the left wing and cut a pass to Zhao in the middle of the box. She took a touch to her right and spun her shot into the lower right corner from 13 yards out.

CHN – LIU YUXI (XU YUE) 81st minute – Liu effectively put the game away with a brilliant solo run down the right wing. She received a pass down the flank, flicked the ball with her heel over U.S. defender Maddie Maves, then outbattled her to win the ball before dribbling into the penalty box and blasting her shot into the upper right corner from 25 yards out.

USA – ISA ORTIZ (DEUS STANISLAUS) – 90 + 7th minute – The USA put together a nice attack up the middle with Loradana Paletta eating up space and then playing Stanislaus in the middle of the box. She drew the goalkeeper to her and then played a square pass to Ortiz, who rolled the ball into the open net for her second goal of the tournament.

Additional Notes:

• Head coach Ciara Crinion made four changes to the starting XI from the second Group E match as Avellina Saunders, who played in goal in the first match, returned between the posts, Anaiah Williams and Kendra Hansen joined Maddie Maves and Gigi Zuniga on the back line and Deus Stanislaus returned at center forward.
• The USA played without defenders Venina Moodie and Meila Brewer, who both suffered minor knocks against Kenya in the second group match. Both had started the first two games.
• Stanislaus captained the USA, making for three captains in three games for the USA with Mia Corona wearing the armband in the first match and Amari Manning in the second.
• Isa Ortiz scored her second career U-17 goal in her fifth cap and second World Cup match.
• Maddie DiMaria now has 12 career U-17 WWC goals, which is a U.S. record, having played in last year’s tournament and scored one goal.
• DiMaria’s 11 goals at this tournament set 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 now has 23 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 22 goals in 2026 (which ties the single calendar year record) and one in 2025.
• DiMaria’s goal extended her record for most goals by a single player in a single FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup tournament to 11 goals. She set the record in the USA’s second group match vs. Kenya.
• The record for most career FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup goals is held by Yu Jong-Hyang of Korea DPR, who has 13 and is currently active in this tournament, having scored eight goals at the 2025 FIFA U-17 WWC and five goals in her three matches so far. North Korea’s Kim Won-Sim has 11 career FIFA U-17 WWC goals and four in this tournament so far.
• The USA finished group played with 25 goals scored, by far the most of any country in the tournament and most ever for a U.S. team at a FIFA Women’s World Cup.

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

Match: United States Under-17 Women’s National Team vs. China PR U-17 WNT
Date: Oct. 25, 2026
Competition: 2026 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup — Group E
Venue: Mohammed VI Football Complex; Salé, Morocco
Attendance: 1,316
Kickoff: 6 p.m. ET
Weather: 65 degrees, clear skies

Lineups:
USA: 1-Avellina Saunders; 2-Gigi Zuniga, 6-Anaiah Williams, 3-Maddie Maves, 4 Kendra Hansen (15-Cassie Travers, 83); 16-Grace Murray (18-Jordyn Heathcock, 62), 8-Loradana Paletta, 10-Mia Corona (20-Isa Ortiz, 62), 7-Maddie DiMaria (14-Jordyn Sullivan, 75), 9-Deus Stanislaus (Capt.), 11-Amari Manning (17-Carolina Reyna, 75)

Substitutes not used: 12-Alexis Fischer, 19-Gianna Hanf, 21-Kathy Long Capell

Not dressing: Venina Moodie, Meila Brewer

Head Coach: Ciara Crinion

CHN: 1-Niu Ziqi; 14-Li Yagi, 3-Liu Yuchen, 5-Cai Xinlin (Capt.), 17-Liu Yuke; 20-Zhao Jiayi, 6-Xu Xiaotang (10-Zhao Siqing, 68); 21-Xu Yue, 11-Liu Yuxi (9-He Hanruo, 90+6), 18-Wu Yichen (7-Yang Yuhan, 80); 19-Fang Zhenzhu

Substitutes not used: 2-Deng Jingjie, 4-Yang Yuxuan, 8-Yang Lan, 12-Bai Shuiling, 13-Cheng Wandi, 15-Yu Qianna, 16-Hu Cuiping

Head coach: Ma Xiaoxu

Stats Summary: USA / CHN
Shots: 20 / 12
Shots on Goal: 4 / 5
Saves: 2 / 2
Corner Kicks: 8 / 1
Fouls: 5 / 9
Offside: 2 / 2

Officials:
Referee: Lara Lee (AUS)
AR1: Nuannid Donjangreed (THA)
AR2: Nicoleta-Ramona Bria (ENG)
4th Official: Fabienne Michel (GER)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Anne Uersfeld (GER)