The U.S. Under-17 Women's National Team left the pitch with a convincing 3-0 win over England for third place in the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. It is the second time USWNT has reached the podium, the first time being in 2008, when they finished as runners-up. This time, however, the 3-0 scoreline was fully merited as a campaign of skill and graft came to an end, finally exorcising the painful semifinal defeat.
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Kennedy Fuller, the midfielder from Angel City FC, was once again at the heart of all their good work. With one goal and an assist, Fuller once again proved that she was the player to increase the tempo during crucial moments, and her performance against England wasn't an exception. In this competition so far, Fuller has been directly involved in 54% of the team's goals. She is not only different in her constancy on the field but also as a natural leader.
Her reading of the game and ability to anticipate play make her a different factor in midfield, making her pace and positioning control very positive, especially in offensive play.
We cannot think of missing the solid defensive wall called Evan O'Steen. This 16-year-old goalkeeper managed four shutouts during the tournament. Against England, O'Steen came through at key moments, handling a series of tough plays from the opposing team with confidence.
The backline of the USWNT, marshaled by O'Steen and supported by defenders playing some faultless direct play, clicked into a rhythm. This system-in its overall structure-allowed it to survive intense pressure in moments where literally every single piece of the team knew their role and executed it with precision.
They overwhelmed the opposition with a clear tactical plan that emphasized high pressure and quick transition into offense. In the early going, the U.S. team pressed England in their defensive half to force mistakes and regain possession in advanced areas of the field. This aggressive posture produced a scoring chance after only nine minutes when Fuller nearly scored the opening goal.
This style, rooted in intensity and exploitation of space, had England struggle with a team that moved forward with both speed and precision. McCammon's goal, built through the crowded defense, showcased the dominance of the U.S. team in crafting and executing plays in the final third. With a clean shot from outside the box, McCammon showed that the USWNT has athletes unafraid to step up and take charge.
Perhaps one of the undoubted high points is the presence of professional players in the USWNT roster. With four players coming from pro league clubs-namely Fuller, Barcenas, McCammon, and Ascanio-the American team enjoys this critical advantage going into the final. Those players, who have acclimatized to the level of a pro, bring maturity and experience that most U-17 teams, comprised as they usually are of academy-level players, just do not have.
These pros show how the U.S. women's soccer system allows young talents to blossom into the limelight during their earlier years. Poise and confidence, even in a global competition, speaks volumes for the U.S. leading status in youth women's soccer.
Success by this young USWNT proves that women's soccer in the country is accelerating its progress at an incredible rate. Success by both the U-17 and U-20 teams, each earning medals in international competitions, marked the first time this year that the U.S. became the only nation to podium in all three FIFA women's championships and signaled the strength of its development program.
This development does not come about by accident; it is a product of a strong youth setup-one that allows early participation in soccer and continuous investment in the women's game. In the U.S., there has been player development not only in technique but also in mental strength and competitiveness to face big challenges with composure and confidence, as has been seen in this tournament.
With this bronze medal, the players close this World Cup cycle but are not finished yet. The competition will shift to an annual rhythm of play in 2025, and five of those in this team remain eligible to take part. This provides continuity that will strengthen the team for the challenges ahead. Continuity is important to the ongoing evolution of the group.
Predictably, the side is already looking forward, knowing full well that there's room to aim even higher. This experience will be worth more in the future as this tournament is surely going to get competitive anytime soon, with even more teams knocking at the door.
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