The United States Under-17 Women's National Team is set to embark on an important international journey as they travel to San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain, for the sixth edition of the prestigious MIMA Cup. This eight-team tournament, scheduled from February 9-14, will feature some of the world's top youth national teams competing in a unique format designed to maximize playing opportunities for all participants.
Head coach Ciara Crinion has carefully selected a 20-player roster for this crucial competition, which serves as valuable preparation for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. The tournament structure ensures that every team will play multiple matches, with an innovative two-path system that keeps all eight nations competitive throughout the five-day event.
Tournament Format and Structure
The MIMA Cup organizers have implemented a compelling format that divides the competition into two distinct paths following the opening round. Each team will play a first-round match, with the four victors advancing to the Gold Medal Path while the four teams that fall short will compete in the Consolation Path. Both paths feature their own semifinals and placement matches, ensuring that every squad has meaningful games throughout the tournament.
The pinnacle of the competition will see the winners of the Gold Medal Path semifinals battling for the championship title, while the losers will contest the third-place match. Similarly, the Consolation Path winners will compete for fifth place, and its semifinal losers will play for seventh position. This structure guarantees that each team will play three matches, providing invaluable international experience for these young athletes.
All matches will take place at the modern Pinatar Arena, a 3,000-seat facility that has become a hub for international youth soccer tournaments. The United States enters the competition as the top-seeded team, a designation based on the FIFA Women's World Ranking of the senior national team, which reflects the country's overall standing in women's football globally.
Opening Round Challenges
In the first round, the American squad faces a challenging matchup against Wales on February 9 at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time. This opening fixture will set the tone for the U.S. team's campaign in Spain. Simultaneously, in Path A, Scotland will take on Morocco, while Path B features Poland facing Norway and Mexico battling England.
The tournament will employ specific substitution rules that differ from standard international competition. Teams may make unlimited substitutions, but they are limited to just three substitution opportunities per match, not including the halftime break. This rule encourages strategic player management while ensuring that squads can rotate their rosters to give multiple players valuable minutes on the pitch.
Another notable regulation is the handling of tied matches. If any game ends in a draw after regulation time, it will proceed directly to a penalty shootout to determine the winner, eliminating extra time and ensuring a decisive outcome. This approach maintains tournament momentum and adds an element of pressure that will test the young players' mental fortitude.
Roster Composition and Youth Development
Coach Crinion's roster selection demonstrates a clear focus on the future, with 18 of the 20 players born in 2009—the age cutoff year for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. This strategic choice indicates that the primary objective is building a cohesive unit capable of competing for world championship glory in the coming years.
The roster includes two particularly young talents: defender Georgianna Zuniga, born in 2010, and midfielder Loradana Paletta, born in 2011. Their inclusion at such a young age speaks volumes about their exceptional abilities and the coaching staff's confidence in their potential to develop rapidly within the national team system.
Seven players on this roster were instrumental in the United States' triumph at the 2024 Concacaf Girls' U-15 Championship, a tournament also coached by Crinion. This group includes forwards Madeline DiMaria, Amari Manning, and Deus Stanislaus; midfielders Mia Corona, Elena Vera, and Paletta; and goalkeeper Ella McNeal. Their prior experience winning together at the international level provides a valuable foundation of chemistry and shared success that could prove crucial in Spain.
Geographic and Club Diversity
The roster showcases the depth and breadth of American youth soccer development, with players representing 14 different youth clubs across the country. This diversity highlights the effectiveness of the U.S. scouting network in identifying talent from various regions and developmental pathways.
Notably, three players hail from St. Louis Scott Gallagher, while two represent Eclipse Select out of Chicago. California contributes five players to the squad, underscoring the state's continued production of elite female soccer talent. This geographic distribution reflects the nationwide growth of women's soccer and the increasing competitiveness of youth clubs across different markets.
One player, forward Deus Stanislaus, has already taken the significant step of enrolling at the University of North Carolina, demonstrating the accelerated path that top youth national team players often follow as they balance academic and athletic aspirations.
Recent Performance and Momentum
The U.S. U-17 Women's National Team enters the MIMA Cup with positive momentum, having already competed in two international matches this year—both held in Spain. The team opened 2025 with a 2-2 draw against Germany, where Stanislaus and Manning found the back of the net. They followed that with an impressive 3-0 victory over Denmark, with goals from Sophie Ahrens, Paletta, and Stanislaus.
These results demonstrate the team's ability to compete against strong European opposition and provide a confidence boost heading into the MIMA Cup. The familiarity with Spanish conditions and international competition should serve the squad well as they navigate the tournament schedule.
Strategic Vision and the U.S. Way
This trip to the MIMA Cup aligns perfectly with the Federation's "U.S. Way" philosophy, a comprehensive approach to youth national team development that emphasizes increased programming and international exposure. The initiative aims to create more opportunities for young players to progress through the national team pathway toward senior team representation.
By participating in prestigious tournaments like the MIMA Cup, U.S. Soccer ensures that its most promising young talents gain invaluable experience against top international competition. This exposure is crucial for their technical, tactical, and psychological development as they aspire to eventually represent the United States at world championships and potentially the senior national team level.
The philosophy recognizes that early and consistent international competition is essential for developing players who can thrive under pressure and adapt to different styles of play. The MIMA Cup provides an ideal platform for this development, featuring diverse opposition from Europe and beyond.
Goalkeeping and Defensive Foundation
The roster includes two goalkeepers: Alexis Fischer from Eclipse Select SC in Chicago, Illinois, and Ella McNeal from St. Louis Scott Gallagher in Manchester, Missouri. McNeal's presence is particularly notable given her role in the 2024 Concacaf U-15 championship victory, bringing winning experience to the most critical position on the field.
While the provided roster information was cut off before listing defenders, the mention of Georgianna Zuniga as a young defender highlights the emphasis on building a solid defensive core for the future. The backline's performance will be crucial in a tournament that features penalty shootouts as tiebreakers, requiring composure and technical precision under immense pressure.
Looking Ahead
As the U.S. U-17 Women's National Team prepares to represent their country in Spain, the MIMA Cup represents more than just a tournament—it's a stepping stone in the development of the next generation of American soccer stars. With a roster built primarily around the 2009 age group, Coach Crinion is clearly laying the groundwork for a serious challenge at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.
The combination of experienced youth internationals, emerging prodigies, and a clear developmental philosophy positions this team as one to watch not only in the immediate tournament but in the broader context of U.S. women's soccer's future. Success in Spain would validate the Federation's investment in youth programming and reinforce the United States' position as a global leader in women's football development.
The MIMA Cup kicks off on February 9, and all eyes will be on this talented group of young American players as they take their first steps on what promises to be a remarkable journey through the international ranks.