The United States U-17 Women’s National Team kicked off their World Cup campaign on Monday with a historic 17-0 victory over Samoa, marking the largest margin of victory in World Cup history across all age levels.

This stunning win eclipsed the previous record of 16-0, set by Morocco against New Caledonia during the 2025 U-17 Men’s World Cup. Maddie DiMaria stood out, scoring an impressive six goals, the most ever by a US player in any match and the highest by any player in a Women’s World Cup match.

• Key Highlights:
  • Ten players scored for the US.
  • The team led 9-0 at halftime and recorded 58 shots throughout the match.
  • Carolina Reyna and Loradana Paletta each contributed two goals.

Reflecting on the achievement, US coach Ciara Crinion expressed pride in the team, stating, “I wasn’t aware [we were breaking a record], but I’m super proud of this group.” DiMaria, a 17-year-old from St. Louis, mentioned her admiration for Erling Haaland, who scored nine goals in a U-20 match, calling it an honor to be recognized alongside such talent.

Despite the lopsided score, the match highlights the growing competition in youth football, particularly with Fifa expanding the U-17 Women’s World Cup to 24 teams. Samoa, making their debut in the tournament, faced a challenging opponent as they strive to develop their football program.

The US team, which has not yet won the tournament despite reaching the finals in 2008 and the semifinals in 2024, will face Kenya in their next group-stage match on Thursday. North Korea currently holds the title as reigning champions.