ALBIR, Spain (April 25, 2026) -- The U.S. Under-16 Girls’ National Team defeated Spain, 3-1, in the second match for both teams at the L'Albir WU16 2026 International Friendly Tournament. The hosts had won their first match 3-0 over Sweden but the U.S. benefitted from a Spanish own goal early and then buried one goal in each half to earn the win. U.S. midfielder Isabella Ortiz played a part in all three scores.
The impressive win over Spain, a European power at the Youth National Team level, puts the U.S. at the top of the standings as the Americans currently have four points and a plus-2 goal differential. As the tournament heads into the final match day on April 28, to win the competition, the United States would need to beat Sweden and maintain or improve its goal differential over the Netherlands, should it win against Spain. If the U.S. was to draw with Sweden, it could still win the tournament with a draw between Spain and the Netherlands. Should the U.S. draw or lose to Sweden, either the Netherlands or Spain would win the tournament.
To open the scoring in the 10th minute, Ortiz beat a player and drove to the end line after receiving a ball from a throw-in. She sent a cross in the box from outside penalty area and across the face of the goal toward fellow midfielder Valentina Perrotta. Span tried to clear, but instead, the ball ricocheted off the leg of Uzuri Cadenato and into the net.
Ortiz would create again in the first half when she received the ball on the top of the 18-yard box. With pressure on her back, she laid the ball off to midfielder Avery Walbruch on the left side of the field and she finished first-time into the upper left side on the net. Spain’s goalkeeper got a touch, but it wasn’t enough to keep the ball from sailing into the back of the net in the 37th minute.
On the USA’s third goal, it was Ortiz who again started the movement. She picked up the ball and dribbled with speed before playing it through to Kayleigh Cabigon. The forward took two touches into the right side of the box, earning some space from defenders, and then slotted her shot inside the far post into the lower side netting. The 56th minute goal would serve as insurance for the U.S. and set the young Americans up with a chance to win the tournament against Sweden in three days.
Spain pulled a goal back with 11 minutes to play in regulation time as the hosts earned a corner kick. Jana Mura Diaz sent the service the back post, over U.S. goalkeeper keeper Gabrielle Gieldum’s outstretched hands, and defender Adriadna Casanovas was waiting to tap the ball into the goal.
The USA outshot Spain, 13-10, and Gieldum made four saves.
This is the third international trip of the year for the U.S. U-16s as U.S. head coach Katie Schoepfer brought one group of players to Spain in January for three matches and an entirely different group to Türkiye in February for three more matches as Schoepfer gave 40 different players opportunities over the two events. The USA had a record with 3W-2L-2T over the seven games in 2006 against the likes of Germany, Belgium, Spain, Denmark, England and the Netherlands.
This roster playing in this tournament is a combination of players from both of those first two European trips plus three new players who were not on either roster.
All 20 players on the roster were born in 2010, which is the birth cutoff year to be eligible for the 2027 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, the tournament that this age group of players will be attempting to qualify for at the 2027 Concacaf Women’s U-17 Championship.
The camp 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-16 Girls’ National Team vs. Spain U-16 Girls’ National Team
Date: April 25, 2026
Competition: L'Albir WU16 2026 International Friendly Tournament
Venue: Albir Garden Resort Pitch, Albir- Field #2; Albir, Spain
Weather: 65 degrees, mostly cloudy
| Scoring Summary | 1 | 2 | F |
| USA | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| ESP | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| USA – Own Goal (Uzuri Cadenato Garcia) | 10th minute |
| USA – Avery Walbruch (Isabella Ortiz) | 37 |
| USA – Kayleigh Cabigon (Isabella Ortiz) | 56 |
| ESP – Adriadna Casanovas Alvarez (Aiora Sarasola Sanchez) | 79 |
Lineups:
USA: 1-Gabriella Gjeldum; 20-Cali Hejduk, 5-Mercy Karson, 14-Brielle Hopkins (16-Dorothea Perry, 61), 6-Cassandra Travers (Capt.); 2-Avery Walbruch, 10-Isabella Ortiz (13-Sadie Diedel, 80), 17-Valentina Perrotta (15-Samaya Khaleel, 46); 3-Caroline Barrow (9-Anaya Bursey, 66), 7-Tatum Gardner (11-Dylan Ohm, 80), 18-Kayleigh Cabigon (19-Koi Edwards, 61).
Subs not used: 4-Madison Kline, 8-Carolyn Voss
Head Coach: Katie Schoepfer
ESP: 1-Rocio Pardo Richarte (13-Alazne Maestu Isasi Isasmendi, 46); 2-Adriadna Casanovas Alvarez, 3-Claudia Lozano Yuguero (14-Laia Olañeta Fernandez, 46), 4-Georgina Morante Marquez, 5-Inge GarayaldeMendizabal (18-Aiora Sarasola Sanchez, 64); 8-Agata Piza Aljama (15-Patricia Lopez Verdu, 64), 11-Bruna Quintana Ros (capt.), 19-Uzuri Cadenato (20-Claudia Tendillo Bernabe, 46); 7-Abril Sampol Lorente (6-Jana Muro Diaz, 46), 10-Sara Muñoz Perez (21-María Mostajo Ollo, 46), 17-Joane Gavilan Arena (9-Ana Maria Martos Vilchez, 46).
Subs not used: 23-Angela Laso Jimenez, 16-Andrea Fernandez Reyes
Head Coach: Natalia Gutiérrez Garrido
Stats Summary: USA / ESP
Shots: 13 / 10
Shots on Goal: 7 / 5
Saves: 4 / 5
Corner Kicks: 7 / 5
Fouls: 13 / 3
Offside: 3 / 1
| Misconduct Summary | |
| USA – Avery Walbruch (caution) | 41st minute |
| USA – Isabella Ortiz (caution) | 58 |
Officials:
Referee: Ainhoa Remón Tello (ESP)
Assistant Referee 1: Martina Pérez Fuentes (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Silva García Coves (ESP)
Fourth Official: Adrián Alex Castillo López (ESP)
2026 L'Albir WU16 2026 International Friendly Tournament Standings - Spain
| TEAM | GP | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 4 |
| NED | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 4 |
| ESP | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 3 |
| SWE | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 0 |