The United States set a new scoring record at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026 after thrashing Samoa 17-0, while two-time champions Spain and China PR began their campaigns with victories on Monday, 19 October.
Australia and Chile, meanwhile, shared the points after playing out a 1-1 draw as Groups E and F got under way.
The USA produced the biggest victory recorded at a FIFA World Cup, with Maddie DiMaria scoring six goals to become the first player to reach that tally in a single match at the U-17 Women’s World Cup. The 17-goal haul surpassed the previous tournament record of 16 goals.
DiMaria opened the scoring after just 63 seconds, finishing from inside the penalty area before Mia Corona doubled the advantage with a superb volley from a corner in the 12th minute.
DiMaria struck twice more in quick succession to complete her hat-trick, helping the Americans establish a commanding lead.
Loradana Paletta scored twice, while Grace Murray and DiMaria added further goals before Amari Manning made it 9-0 in first-half stoppage time.
The United States continued their attacking display after the break, with Deus Stanislaus, Carolina Reyna and DiMaria adding to the tally.
DiMaria scored twice more in the 70th and 73rd minutes to complete her six-goal haul. Further strikes from Isa Ortiz, Reyna, captain Meila Brewer and Gianna Hanf completed the 17-0 victory.
The result gave the USA an emphatic start to their Group E campaign and placed them at the top of the group on goal difference after the opening fixtures.
China PR also began their Group E campaign with an impressive 3-0 victory over Kenya.
Xu Yue opened the scoring in the 12th minute after racing on to Fang Zhenzhu’s precise pass and finishing into the bottom-right corner.
Kenya goalkeeper Mishel Okoyo kept her side in contention with a fine save to deny Wu Yichen following another incisive pass from Fang.
China extended their lead shortly after half-time when Okoyo tipped Fang’s long-range effort on to the crossbar, allowing Xu Xiaotang to score from the rebound in the 50th minute.
Xu Xiaotang completed her brace three minutes later, heading home Fang’s cross to seal the victory.
Spain, meanwhile, opened their Group F campaign with a 2-0 win over Mexico, the previous edition’s bronze medallists.
Mexico goalkeeper Ania Lopez produced a triple save in the 13th minute to keep her team in the contest as Spain dominated the early exchanges.
Spain continued to threaten, with Elena Vizuete hitting the junction of the crossbar and post in the 28th minute.
The European side eventually broke the deadlock shortly before half-time when Lopez parried Vizuete’s powerful effort into the path of Carolina Ferrera, who finished into the unguarded net.
Vizuete doubled Spain’s advantage in the second half, cutting inside from the right before curling a left-footed effort beyond the goalkeeper, with the ball clipping the post on its way into the net.
The victory gave Spain a positive start as they seek to build on the success of their U-20 counterparts at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
In the other Group F fixture, Australia and Chile played out a 1-1 draw.
Australia created the first clear opportunity, but Chile goalkeeper Oriana Cristancho produced an excellent reaction save to keep the scores level.
Chile took the lead through Concha, who headed home at the far post after Josefa Munita delivered a curling cross.
The Junior Matildas responded after the break, drawing level through a set-piece move. Sakura Leon delivered a low cross, which Charlotte Bradshaw converted at the far post.
Both teams pushed for a winner in the closing stages, but neither could find a breakthrough, leaving them with a point apiece.
The results produced contrasting starts to the tournament, with the USA making history through their record-breaking victory, Spain and China PR securing wins, and Australia and Chile settling for a draw.
