On the Pitch

Preview: USA Faces Brazil For Next Test At FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup

Kalinga Stadium; Bhubaneswar, India; Oct. 14 - 7:00 a.m. ET; FS2, Universo

U.S. Under-17 Women’s Youth National Team vs. Brazil

2022 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup - Group A

Kalinga Stadium; Bhubaneswar, India

Oct. 14 - 7:00 a.m. ET

FS2, Universo

 

U-17 WYNT AIMS TO TAKE NEXT STEP IN WORLD CUP AGAINST BRAZIL:

After a record-breaking 8-0 win against host India in the opening match of the 2022 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup, the U.S. U-17 Women’s Youth National Team will face Brazil in its second Group A match on Friday morning (7 a.m. ET; FS2, Universo).

 

Brazil edged Morocco 1-0 in its first match in India and sits in second player behind the USA in Group A early on. Friday morning marks the first meeting between the USA and Brazil at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, but the teams have met in three U-20 WWCs and in some of women’s soccer’s most memorable matches at the senior level.

Fans can follow the U-17 WYNT throughout the tournament on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and ussoccer.com.

 

MEDIA GUIDE:

The U.S. U-17 WYNT media guide for the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup can be viewed or downloaded here.

 

2022 FIFA U-17 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP

USA SCHEDULE - GROUP A

Date

Match

Result/Kickoff (ET)

Venue; City

TV

Oct. 11

USA vs. India

W 8-0

Kalinga Stadium; Bhubaneswar

FS2, Universo

Oct. 14

USA vs. Brazil

7:00 a.m.

Kalinga Stadium; Bhubaneswar

FS2, Universo

Oct. 17

USA vs. Morocco

10:30 a.m.

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Goa

FS2, Telemundo Deportes App, Website and Streaming

 

2022 FIFA U-17 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP

GROUP A STANDINGS

 

TEAM

GP

W

L

D

GF

GA

GD

PTS

USA

1

1

0

0

8

0

+8

3

BRA

1

1

0

0

1

0

+1

3

MAR

1

0

1

0

0

1

-1

0

IND

1

0

1

0

0

8

-8

0

 

WATCH FIFA U-17 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP ON FOX & UNIVERSO:

The USA’s group stage matches are being broadcast on Fox Sports 2. All of the tournament’s 32 matches will be carried on FS2 or Fox Soccer Plus and will be available online at FoxSports.com and the Fox Sports App with corresponding authentication. In addition, the USA’s group stage matches will be broadcast in Spanish on the Universo family of platforms. The Brazil match will be on Universo while the third group game vs. Morocco will be carried on the Telemundo Deportes App, website and streaming platforms.

 

FLYING START FOR USA:

The U-17 WYNT kicked off its World Cup campaign in India with an emphatic 8-0 victory against the hosts which marked the largest-ever victory for the USA at a youth Women’s World Cup tournament. Forward Melina Rebimbas led the way with two goals, including the opener in the ninth minute, while six other players also got on the scoresheet: midfielder Charlotte Kohler, forward Onyeka Gamero, defender Gisele Thompson, defender Ella Emri, forward Taylor Suarez and midfielder Mia Bhuta.

 

MIA MAKES HISTORY:

Bhuta made history on Tuesday night, becoming the first player of Indian descent to represent the U.S. at a FIFA Women’s World Cup at any level when she entered the match at halftime, doing so, amazingly, in India, while remarkably, also scoring and getting an assist against the host country. The 16-year-old, whose father Vyom was born in Mumbai and grew up in Rajkot in Gujarat before emigrating to the USA when he himself was 16, teed up defender Ella Emri for a goal off a corner kick in the 51st minute and then scored one of her own in the 62nd, ripping a curler from distance into the top left corner. Bhuta has been the subject of quite a bit of interest from Indian media and fans so far in just her short time in the country of her ancestry.

 

 

MIA BHUTA STORIES:

 

2022 U.S. UNDER-17 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TEAM ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB; HOMETOWN; CAPS/GOALS):

 

GOALKEEPERS (3): Abigail Gundry (NC Courage; Wake Forest, N.C.; 5), Victoria Safradin (Internationals SC; Eastlake, Ohio; 8), Valentina Amaral (Florida Kraze Crush; Oviedo, Fla.; 2)                

 

DEFENDERS (6): Ella Emri (San Diego Surf; San Diego, Calif.; 4/1), Nicola Fraser (Real Colorado National; Highlands Ranch, Colo.; 9/1), Jordyn Bugg (San Diego Surf; El Cajon, Calif.; 1/0), Savannah King (Slammers FC HB Koge; West Hills, Calif.; 10/0), Cameron Roller (Solar SC; Sherman, Texas; 9/1), Gisele Thompson (Total Futbol Academy; Studio City, Calif.; 10/1)          

 

MIDFIELDERS (5): Mia Bhuta (Internationals SC; Pittsburgh, Pa.; 11/3), Riley Jackson (Concorde Fire; Roswell, Ga.; 9/2), Charlotte Kohler (MVLA; Woodside, Calif.; 9/7), Lauren Martinho (NC Courage; Cary, N.C.; 11/5), Ella Sanchez (Racing Louisville; Louisville, Ky.; 4/0)                                           

 

FORWARDS (7): Emeri Adames (Solar SC; Red Oak, Texas; 4/2), Onyeka Gamero (Beach FC; Cerritos, Calif.; 10/6), Nicollette Kiorpes (NEFC; Worcester, Mass.; 8/5), Melina Rebimbas (PDA; Warren, N.J.; 11/10), Samantha Smith (Boise Thorns FC; Boise, Idaho; 10/3), Taylor Suarez (Charlotte SA; Charlotte, N.C.; 10/3), Amalia Villarreal (Michigan Jaguars FC; Lansing, Mich.; 10/8)

 

ROSTER NOTES:

  • With her brace against India, forward Melina Rebimbas tallied her team-leading ninth and 10th career international goals.
  • Rebimbas’ brace was the sixth individual multi-goal game in the USA’s history at the U-17 WWC.
  • The win marked the USA’s largest ever in a U-17 Women’s World Cup. The team’s previous biggest margin of victory came against Gambia, 6-0, at Azerbaijan 2012. The eight goals are the most ever scored by the U.S. in a youth Women’s World Cup match.
  • U.S. head coach Natalia Astrain used all five allowed subs vs. India, three at halftime, one in the 75th minute and one in the 82nd.
  • After coming into the India match as a halftime substitute, defender Jordyn Bugg earned her first U-17 WYNT cap.
  • Five players have yet to make their World Cup debuts: goalkeepers Abigail Gundry and Valentina Amaral plus forwards Samantha Smith, Nicollette Kiorpes and Amalia Villarreal.
  • Fifteen of the 21 players on the World Cup roster helped the USA win the Concacaf U-17 Women’s Championship this spring.
  • The six players on the World Cup roster who were not a part of the U.S. team at World Cup qualifying are goalkeeper Valentina Amaral, defenders Ella Emri and Bugg, midfielder Ella Sanchez and forwards Emeri Adames and Samantha Smith.
  • The roster is made up of players from 17 different youth clubs and 13 different states. Defender Gisele Thompson plays in MLS Next for the U-17 boys’ team at Total Futbol Academy in Los Angeles.
  • Six players hail from California, four come from North Carolina and two are from Texas. Players also come from Colorado, Idaho, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
  • The youth clubs who played multiple players on the roster are the NC Courage (3), San Diego Surf (2), Solar FC (2), and Internationals SC (2).
  • Of the 21 players on the roster, eight are currently high school seniors, 10 are in their junior year and two are sophomores. Bhuta has graduated from high school and will enroll early at Stanford University in January.

 

SIXTEEN TEAMS, ONE CHAMPION:

Contested every two years, the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup determines a champion for women’s soccer at the Under-17 level. The 2022 competition is the first tournament since 2018 after the 2020 U-17 WWC was canceled due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. While the USA and Brazil have a leg up in Group A, Chile leads Group B early on after a 3-1 win over Zealand. Germany is second after its 2-1 win over Nigeria. China PR and Spain both picked big wins in a very difficult Group C, downing Mexico, 2-1, and Colombia, 1-0, respectively. Spain are the current holders for both the FIFA U-17 and U-20 Women’s World Cups. Japan currently tops Group D after downing Tanzania, 4-0, while Canada and France both earned a point with a hard-fought 1-1 tie.

 

“KICK OFF THE DREAM” IN INDIA:

This year marks a historic event for women’s soccer as India hosts its first-ever FIFA women’s tournament. First staged in 2008 in New Zealand, this year marks the seventh FIFA WWC at this age level. It’s the second time that the tournament has been hosted in Asia, following the ground-breaking 2016 competition in Jordan, the first FIFA WWC held in the Middle East.

 

“Kick Off the Dream” is the tournament’s official slogan, encapsulating the aspirational and empowering message of the tournament as FIFA aims to grow women’s soccer around the globe and use the tournament to inspire girls of all ages in India and worldwide. Ibha, an anthropomorphic Asiatic lioness, is the official tournament mascot. Her name loosely translates to “good vision and a feeling of love.”

BRAZIL OFF ON RIGHT FOOT:

Brazil secured three points in its opening World Cup match with a 1-0 victory against a hard-working and gritty Morocco team on Tuesday. Brazil’s most dangerous forward Jhonson netted in just the fifth minute of play and the Brazilians dominated possession, outshooting tournament debutant Morocco, 18-4. 

 

U.S. U-17 WYNT VS. BRAZIL:

  • This marks the first match between the U-17 WYNT and Brazil at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
  • The teams have squared off three times at the U-20 WWC, with the USA holding a 2-0-1 advantage.
  • Brazil has appeared in six of seven U-17 WWCs, the most of any South American nation.
  • The Canarinhas reached the quarterfinals at the 2010 and 2012 tournaments.
  • Brazil qualified for India as one of three teams from South America, winning the CONMEBOL U-17 Women’s Championship for a record fourth time.
  • After rolling through the Group B in the first group stage with 21 goals scored and zero against, Brazil finished atop the table in the second group stage as well, going undefeated against Chile, Colombia and Paraguay while scoring 12 goals and allowing none.
  • Jhonson led the team in scoring with nine goals in qualifying. Aline had six scores and Dudinha had five.
  • Head coach Simone Gomes Jatobá took over the Brazil U-17 squad in August 2019. She earned 57 caps with the Brazil National Team as a player, representing her nation at the 2003 and 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cups.
  • Brazil has one U.S-based player in forward Juju, who plays for Florida United SC.

 

BRAZIL 2022 FIFA U-17 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB):


GOALKEEPERS (3): 12-Elu (Sao Paulo FC), 1-Leilane (Ferroviária), 21-Mari (Fluminense FC)

DEFENDERS (9): 13-Aninha (Sao Paulo FC), 18-Gabi Berchon (SC Internacional), 4-Grazy (Ferroviária), 8-Ana Julia (Sao Paulo FC), 2-Luana Gusmao (Ferroviária), 3-Guta (SC Internacional), 5-Kedima (Sao Paulo FC), 14-Myka (SC Internacional), 15-Rebeca (Fortaleza)

MIDFIELDERS (5): 7-Aline (Ferroviária), 10-Carol (Sao Paulo FC), 11-Dudinha (Sao Paulo FC), 16-Ana Flavia (Sao Paulo FC), 17-Lara (SC Corinthians)

FORWARDS (4): 6-Alice (SC Internacional), 9-Jhonson (Toledo FC), 20-Juju (Florida United SC/USA), 19-Rhaissa (Ferroviária)

Go Deeper

U-17 WYNT