SALÉ, Morocco (Oct. 18, 2025) – The U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team opened the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup with a resounding 3-0 win over Ecuador. Defender Meila Brewer, midfielder Nyanya Touray and forward Lauren Malsom all scored first-half goals.
In the other Group C match, China PR rolled over Norway, 5-0, meaning the USA sits in second place in the group after the first match day. The United States will face China PR next on Tuesday, Oct. 21 (Noon ET; FS2) and closes the group stage versus World Cup-debutant Norway on Friday, Oct. 24 (9 a.m. ET; FS2).
This is the first FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup featuring 24 nations, up from 16 teams that battled for the title in the eight previous editions of the tournament. This is also the first of five years that the competition will be held in Morocco. The top two finishers in each of the six groups, along with the four best third-place teams, will advance to the Round of 16 knockout stage.
Ecuador made just its second appearance in this tournament and showed some early energy by picking up two first-half yellow cards. Soon enough, the Ecuadorian side proved to be no match for the young Americans, eventually getting doubled up on shots, 22-11.
The USA got off to a quick start as Chicago Stars forward Micayla Johnson sprinted into the penalty area from the right side and forced Ecuador goalkeeper Maria Rodriguez to push her driven shot over the crossbar in the fourth minute.
The Video Support System came into play in just the eighth minute when Johnson was clearly taken down in the box by Ecuador defender Scarlet Garaicoa. The penalty was not given live. The USA asked for a review, but referee Ionela Alina Peşu waved off the claim.
After another penalty shout went unheeded, the play resulted in the USA earning a corner kick from the left side in the 19th minute. Antonucci bent an inswinger into the penalty box and crashing central defender Meila Brewer weaved through goalmouth traffic to smash her header into the net from five yards out. It was the first career goal at this level for the 16-year-old.
The USA kept the pressure on, and in the 22nd minute, forward Maddie DiMaria sent a driven header off the crossbar six yards out after a nice cross from Johnson from the right side. DiMaria, who is one of the four 2009-born players on the roster, earned her first U-17 cap. DiMaria fired a shot into the net in the 37th minute, but her run was correctly deemed offside.
DiMaria was not to be denied, however, and she got behind the defense in the 41st minute on a slipped pass from Malsom. DiMaria’s powerful left-footed shot was well-saved by Rodriguez, but she couldn’t hold it, and the ball fell to Touray for her to tap home from three yards out to make it 2-0. It was Touray’s fifth U-17 international goal in her ninth career cap.
The Americans made it 3-0 just before halftime as Malsom scored her first World Cup goal and second of her U-17 international career. It was Johnson who got her behind the defense with a deft touch with the outside of her right foot into the center of the penalty area. Malsom collected the ball, burst in front of a defender and finished to the left of the goalkeeper from 13 yards out to give the USA a commanding lead a minute into first stoppage time.
The USA ended the half with a flurry of shots and corner kicks, and the South Americans were likely relieved to hear the halftime whistle.
The young squad put the ball in the net less than three minutes into the second half. It was DiMaria again, but once again she was correctly flagged for offside. Johnson seemingly scored in the 89th minute, but she too was whistled for offside.
Forward KK Ream of the Utah Royals, who came on in the 70th minute, had a great chance in the 71st minute on a breakaway, but she was stoned by 'keeper Rodiguez, and the three first-half scores turned out to be the only ones of the game.
Ecuador had a bit more of the play in the second half but didn’t seriously threaten the U.S. goal. USA goalkeeper Evan O’Steen earned the shutout, her fifth in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, after she picked up four shutouts and Golden Glove honors at the 2024 edition of this tournament.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN
USA – Meila Brewer (Scottie Antonucci), 19th minute: The U.S. pressure earned several corner kicks early, and the Americans capitalized on the set play. Antonucci served a drive cross from the left side, and it was met by the head of Brewer, who powered her shot into the net from close range to give the USA an early lead. USA 1, ECU 0.
USA – Nyanya Touray, 41st minute: Touray was in the right place at the right time to tap in a rebound from close range after Maddie DiMaria’s shot had been pushed up into the air by Ecuador goalkeeper Maria Rodriguez. USA 2, ECU 0.
USA – Lauren Malsom (Micayla Johnson), 45+1st minute: The USA’s center forward finished clinically from the center of the penalty area just behind the spot after Johnson had expertly slipped a pass behind the defense. Malsom, a UNC freshman, struck her shot low and past the goalkeeper to give the USA a commanding halftime lead. USA 3, ECU 0 FINAL
Additional Notes:
- Three of the U.S. starters – goalkeeper Evan O’Steen, midfielder Scottie Antonucci and forward Micayla Johnson – played in the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup
- Of the USA’s four professional players, two were in the starting lineup: Johnson and outside back Sydney Schmidt, who signed with the North Carolina Courage just a few days ago but has yet to play in a professional match.
- The USA starting lineup featured seven college players, two professionals and two youth club players.
- Defender Natalie Chudowsky came into the game for Meila Brewer at halftime while midfielders Jaiden Rodriguez and Chloe Sadler came on in the 62nd minute, making it a second FIFA U-17 WWC for Rodriguez. Forward KK Ream came on in the 70th and defender Olvia Robinson came on in the 77th as U.S. head coach Katie Schoepfer made all five allowed subs.
- Center back Pearl Cecil captained the USA in what was the first-ever World Cup match for 10 U.S. players.
- Scottie Antonucci and Jaiden Rodriguez both picked up yellow cards for the USA. One more caution for either before the quarterfinal round would result in a one-game suspension.
- The USA had 3.89 expected goals in this match while Ecuador had 0.39.
-U.S. UNDER-17 WOMEN’S YOUTH NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-
Match: United States Under-17 Women’s National Team vs. Ecuador
Date: Oct. 18, 2025
Competition: 2025 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup – Group C
Venue: Mohammed VI Football Academy (Pitch 3); Salé, Morocco
Attendance: 555
Kickoff: 8 p.m. local (3 p.m. ET)
Weather: 70 and clear
| Scoring Summary |
1 |
2 |
F |
| USA |
3 |
0 |
3 |
| ECU |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| USA – Meila Brewer (Scottie Antonucci) | 19th minute |
| USA – Nyanya Touray | 41 |
| USA – Lauren Malsom (Micayla Johnson) | 45+1 |
Lineups:
USA: 1-Evan O’Steen; 2-Cali O’Neill (13-Olivia Robinson, 77), 4-Pearl Cecil (Capt.), 5-Malia Brewer (14-Natalie Chudowsky, 46), 3-Sydney Schmidt; 6-Scottie Antonucci (8-Chloe Sadler, 62), 15-Riley Kennedy, 7-NyanyaTouray (10-Jaiden Rodriguez, 62); 17-Micayla Johnson, 9-Lauren Malsom, 11-Maddie DiMaria (19-KK Ream, 70)
Substitutes not used: 12-Peyton Trayer, 16-Anastasia Showler-Little, 18-Mak Witham, 20-Elayna Kocher, 21-Ella McNeal
Head coach: Katie Schoepfer
ECU: 1-Maria Rodriguez, 3-Maite Zambrano (Capt.), 4-Ammy Flores (15-Esther Carabali, 83), 5-Karolina Villacis, 6-Scarlet Garaicoa, 8-Valeria Briones (7-Emily Delgado, 76), 10-Mary Guerra, 11-Emily Fierro (9-Jaslym Valverde, 46), 14-Nicole Yepez (2-Rosa Estupinan, 46), 16-Xiomara Alcivar (17-Emily Vargas, 88), 20-Zoe Garces
Substitutes not used: 12-Analia Machuca, 13-Dayanna Andocilla, 18-Rihanna Quiñonez, 19-Erika Lopez, 21-Danna Pilamunga
Head coach: Victor Idrobo
Stats Summary: USA / ECU
Shots: 22 / 11
Shots on Goal: 7 / 4
Saves: 4 / 4
Corner Kicks: 8 / 6
Fouls: 7 / 10
Offside: 8 / 1
| ECU – Karolina Villacis (Caution) | 14th minute |
| ECU – Ammy Flores (Caution) | 28 |
| USA – Scottie Antonucci (Caution) | 35 |
| ECU – Rosa Estupinan (Caution) | 53 |
| USA – Jaiden Rodriguez (Caution) | 81 |
Officials:
Referee: Alina Pesu (ROU)
AR1: Ivona Pejic (CRO)
AR2: Svitlana Grushko (UKR)
Fourth Official: Olmedo Rivera (ESP)
