MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay – The stage is set for the Final of the 2018 FIFA Under-17 World Cup, as Mexico takes on Spain this Saturday at the Estadio Charrua in Montevideo, Uruguay.
It has been quite the ride for El Tricolor.
After finishing second in its group with a 1W-2D-0L record, Mexico picked up steam as it entered in the Knockout Stage.
It first eliminated Ghana 4-2 in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw in the quarterfinals before topping Canada 1-0 in what was a first ever all-Concacaf semifinal at a FIFA women’s youth tournament.
Mexico has used a blend of solid defending and timely goal-scoring to book its place in the Final.
Head Coach Monica Vergara’s defense has registered three clean sheets during the tournament, while Nicole Perez has led the way in attack with three goals, including penalty conversions in the quarterfinal against Ghana and the game-clinching goal against Canada in the semifinals.
Standing in the way of Mexico’s first ever FIFA World Cup trophy in women’s football is a Spain side that is coming off a strong 2-0 semifinal win against New Zealand and boasts one of the tournament’s leading goalscorers in Claudia Pina.
Saturday’s Final marks just the second time that a Concacaf nation has reached an Under-17 Women’s World Cup Final.
In the inaugural Under-17 Women’s World Cup Final, the United States fell 2-1 to North Korea in the Final.
