SAN PEDRO DEL PINATAR, Spain (Feb.12, 2026) – The U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team powered in five goals in just 20 minutes in the second half to roll past Morocco, 5-0, and earn a place in the MIMA Cup Championship Game.
The win marked two back-to-back 5-0 victories for the young Americans after defeating Wales by the same score in the tournament’s opening game.
With the win, the USA qualifies for the Championship Game on Feb. 14 and will face England, which tied Norway 0-0 in the other Gold Medal Path semifinal before winning, 5-4, on penalty kicks.
Forward Maddie DiMaria bagged a pure hat trick, scoring three consecutive goals in the 13-minute span to close out the game. Amazingly, forward Gianna Hanf, who came on in the 61st minute, assisted on all three. DiMaria came into the match at halftime.
Morocco, host of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, will play Norway for third place. Poland will face Scotland for fifth place and Mexico squares off against Wales for seventh.
A tight and scoreless first half continued through the first 15 minutes of the second half before the USA forced open the floodgates. The first goal came in the 61st minute as forward Mia Corona curled a corner kick to the back post where defender Sophia Ahrens finished from close range for her second international goal.
Four minutes later, midfielder Loradana Paletta blasted a volley into the back of the net and the USA was off and running. Then it was time for the DiMaria/Hanf show.
In the 75th minute, the USA won a ball around midfield and transitioned quickly into the attack. Hanf crossed a ball into the penalty box, and DiMaria was able to get her foot on it for the score. Eight minutes later Hanf slipped a pass behind the Moroccan defense and DiMaria burst through, took a few touches and buried her shot. In the 81st minute, the hat trick was complete when Hanf weaved through a pair of Moroccan defenders and squared it to DiMaria, who tapped the ball home.
DiMaria, a member of the USA’s 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Team, upped career goals to four in 10 caps. Her other goal came at the U-17 World Cup last year vs. China PR in a 5-2 win. Paletta’s goal was her second at the U-17 level in as many games after she scored in the win over Wales.
The USA allowed just three total shots, two on goal, and Alexis Fischer picked up the shutout in goal.
All the matches are being played at the 3,000-seat Pinatar Arena in San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain. If any match ends in a draw, the match will go directly to a penalty shootout to determine the winner.
The trip to this tournament is part of the Federation’s continued focus on the U.S. Way philosophy, which emphasizes increased programming for Youth National Teams to create more opportunities for young players to advance through the pathway to the senior National Team with the goal of representing their country at a world championship.
Match: United States U-17 Women’s National Team vs. Morocco U-17 WNT
Date: February 12, 2026
Competition: MIMA Cup Semifinal
Venue: PINATAR Arena; San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain
Attendance: 80
Weather: 45 degrees, windy
| Scoring Summary | 1 | 2 | F |
| USA | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| MAR | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| USA – Sophia Ahrens (Mia Corona) | 67th minute |
| USA – Loradana Paletta | 71 |
| USA – Maddie DiMaria (Gianna Hanf) | 75 |
| USA – Maddie DiMaria (Gianna Hanf) | 83 |
| USA – Maddie DiMaria (Gianna Hanf) | 87 |
Lineups:
USA: 12-Alexis Fischer; 2-Gigi Zuniga (6-Loradana Paletta, 46), 14-Sophia Ahrens, 4-Anaiah Williams (5-Maddie Maves, 46), 13-Venina Moodie (3-Kendra Hansen, 72); 8-Jordyn Heathcock (18-Taylor Morrell, 76), 16-Elena Vera, 20-Lilah Helwig (10-Mia Corona, 61); 17-Giselle Aguilar (7-Maddie DiMaria, 46), 19-Deus Stanislaus (Capt.) (9-Gianna Hanf, 61), 15-Alexia Hansen (11-Amari Manning, 72)
Subs not used: 1-Ella McNeal
Head Coach: Ciara Crinion
MAR: 1-Zeqaqi Meriem (12-Charah Aixa, 70); 2-Aagaou Nayla (5-Mouman Malak, 70), 14-Youssoufi Hiba, 21-Hamdani Anissa, (4-Ferkouss Maissane, 70), 3-Oubella Meryem (23-Dahraoui Rajae, 70); 6-Bouzman Celia (Capt.) (16-Boughazi Charaf, 70), 8-Ben Amar Sofia (26-Krafia Malak, 70); 18-Abajiou Sonia (17-El Hajouti Sara, 46), 10-Mouradi Nessma (19-Charifi Amina, 70), 9-Baha Mayssa (7-Nibouch Samia, 70), 11-Boughazi Chaimae (13-Benali Halima, 48)
Subs not used: 20-Ndiaye Sana, 24-Le Floch Maissane, 25-Tahir Fatimaezzahrae
Head Coach: Youness Rabie
Stats Summary: USA / MAR
Shots: 13 / 3
Shots on Goal: 8 / 2
Saves: 2 / 3
Corner Kicks: 9 / 2
Fouls: 11 / 8
Offside: 6 / 2
Misconduct Summary:
None
Officials:
Referee: Pedro Segura (ESP)