Background and Significance of the Achievement
Mexico, known as “El Tri,” has made a triumphant return to the podium in the FIFA Women’s U-17 World Cup, securing the bronze medal after seven years. This marks the second time in their history that Mexico has finished among the top three teams in this prestigious competition.
The Road to Bronze
El Tri achieved this feat by defeating Brazil 3-1 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in regular time during the Mundial 2025 in Morocco.
- The match ended 1-1 in regular time, with Brazil taking the lead through Kaylane Vieira’s goal in the 78th minute.
- Evelin Bonifacio equalized for Mexico with an own goal in stoppage time, sending the game to penalties.
- Valentina Murrieta, Mexico’s goalkeeper, was instrumental in the shootout, saving two Brazilian penalties and earning the Golden Glove award from FIFA.
Key Players and Their Impact
Valentina Murrieta, a member of the America club’s youth setup, was pivotal in Mexico’s success. Her two crucial penalty saves not only bolstered her teammates’ confidence but also secured her the individual Golden Glove award.
Berenice Ibarra, Mía Villalpando, and Dulce María successfully converted their penalties, while Valeria Alvarado’s missed penalty did not hinder Mexico’s triumph.
Historical Context and Future Implications
Mexico’s previous podium finish occurred in 2018 during the Uruguay tournament, where they reached the final but lost to Spain 1-2. This remains their best performance in women’s U-17 FIFA World Cup history.
Mexico’s journey in the 2025 tournament began with a 0-2 loss to Corea del Norte but recovered with narrow victories over the Netherlands and Cameroon.
In the knockout stages, Mexico defeated Paraguay 1-0, overcame Italy 5-4 on penalties after a goalless draw, and lost to the Netherlands 0-1 in the semifinals. Their bronze medal victory against Brazil capped an impressive campaign.
Of the 21 players called up by coach Miguel Gamero, six hail from US-based clubs, while the remainder are part of Liga MX Femenil’s youth setup, with America and Pachuca contributing three players each.
In 2024, FIFA announced that both the men’s and women’s U-17 World Cups would transition from a biannual to an annual format. Additionally, Morocco has been confirmed as the host for the women’s tournament in 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029.
Corea del Norte leads the all-time tournament rankings with four titles (2008, 2016, 2024, and 2025), followed by Spain with two (2018 and 2022), and South Korea, France, and Japan with one title each.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Valentina Murrieta? Valentina Murrieta is a talented goalkeeper from the America club’s youth setup in Mexico. She played a crucial role in securing the bronze medal for Mexico in the 2025 FIFA Women’s U-17 World Cup by saving two penalties in the shootout against Brazil and earning the Golden Glove award from FIFA.
- What changes are coming to the FIFA U-17 World Cup? Starting in 2024, the FIFA U-17 World Cup will transition from a biannual to an annual event, both for men’s and women’s divisions.
- Who has been the most successful nation in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup? Corea del Norte has dominated the tournament, winning four titles (2008, 2016, 2024, and 2025).
