Photo: Mac Brown
By Sebastian Quiroz-Gutierrez – @SebastianQuir0z
The United States features a growing collegiate presence at the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, with head coach Katie Schoepfer naming seven college players to the 21-player roster announced on September 30. The tournament runs from October 17 to November 8 in Morocco and is the first edition to include 24 nations. The U.S. has opened Group C with two wins and has clinched a berth in the Round of 16.
The Americans opened Group C play on October 18 against Ecuador in Sale and met China PR on October 21; the group finale is scheduled for Friday, October 24, against Norway at the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Sale. Among the 21 players selected, seven are enrolled at Division I programs across the country, representing schools from the ACC and the Big Ten. Schoepfer continues to integrate college freshmen alongside youth club and professional players.
Tournament So Far
The USA defeated Ecuador 3–0 (goals by Meila Brewer, Nyanya Touray, and Lauren Malsom) and beat China PR 5–2 (braces from Malsom and Touray, plus a goal from Maddie DiMaria) to move to the top of Group C and secure a spot in the round of 16. A win or draw vs. Norway on Oct. 24 will clinch first place in the group.
College players’ impact through the first two matches
The collegiate contingent has played a central role. Brewer (UCLA) scored her first U-17 international goal vs. Ecuador. Malsom (North Carolina) has three goals in two matches, including a brace vs. China PR. Touray (Florida State) also has three goals across the first two games. Evan O’Steen (Florida State) started both matches in goal and earned a shutout vs. Ecuador. Pearl Cecil (Virginia) started and captained the opener. Riley Kennedy (North Carolina) started the win over China PR. Jaiden Rodriguez (USC) appeared off the bench in both matches.
Meila Brewer (Defender) – UCLA
At just 16 years old, Meila Brewer (pictured above) has joined the storied program at UCLA, enrolling two years ahead of schedule after reclassifying. A native of Overland Park, Kansas, Brewer came into the tournament with five U-17 caps and continues to develop as a composed defender with size and intelligence. In her debut college season, she has played and started six games for the Bruins so far, quickly adapting to Division I pace while anchoring the back line for one of the nation’s top programs.
Pearl Cecil (Defender) – Virginia
Defender Pearl Cecil, from Encinitas, California, had 10 previous U-17 caps and one goal. A freshman at Virginia, Cecil has appeared in four matches, earning one start and scoring her first collegiate goal against Xavier. Her blend of defensive awareness and attacking threat makes her a well-rounded option in both college and international play.
Riley Kennedy (Midfielder) – North Carolina
Riley Kennedy, a midfielder from Holly Springs, North Carolina, represents North Carolina, one of the most successful women’s soccer programs in NCAA history. Kennedy came into the tournament with four U-17 caps and one goal and is making an immediate impact in Chapel Hill, playing in 10 games and starting eight. She also recorded her first collegiate assist in a road match at James Madison University, contributing to UNC’s dynamic midfield group.
Lauren Malsom (Forward) – North Carolina
Another Tar Heel, Lauren Malsom of Marietta, Georgia, has started strong in her freshman season. She has played in 10 games, starting five, and tallied four goals and one assist. Her most notable outing came at Notre Dame, where she scored twice in a 4–3 loss to the then-No. 2 Fighting Irish. Malsom also had five U-17 caps and one goal entering the tournament, providing pace and finishing ability to both UNC and the U.S. attack.
Evan O’Steen (Goalkeeper) – Florida State
Goalkeeper Evan O’Steen brings both experience and accolades, with 10 U-17 caps before the start of the tournament and the Golden Glove from the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Now at Florida State, she has played in four games, started two, and posted a 1-0-0 record with two saves in 168:57. The Grapevine, Texas, native continues to develop within one of the premier goalkeeping programs in the nation.
Jaiden Rodriguez (Midfielder) – USC
Jaiden Rodriguez, a midfielder from San Diego, California, is among the roster’s most experienced with 15 U-17 caps and three goals coming into the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Representing USC, Rodriguez has featured in nine games, starting three, and recorded one assist in a 4–0 win over California Baptist. Her ability to control tempo and connect lines is a steady asset for both USC and the national team.
Nyanya Touray (Midfielder) – Florida State
Nyanya Touray, from Silver Spring, Maryland, has been a consistent performer at the U-17 level with eight caps and four goals coming into the tournament. The freshman midfielder has appeared in nine games for Florida State, scoring one goal in a 3–0 win over Miami. While she has yet to start a collegiate match, her impact off the bench and attacking instincts mirror the creative spark she brings to the U.S. midfield.
College Pathway on the Rise
With seven collegiate players on this year’s roster—up from four in 2024—the NCAA footprint in the U.S. youth national team pipeline continues to expand. Through two matches, the college group has already delivered pivotal performances, underscoring how more elite young players are choosing the college pathway for development, education, and international exposure as the U.S. pushes toward the knockout rounds in Morocco.
