DOHA, Qatar (November 11, 2025) – The U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team used a 78th minute strike from substitute Mathis Albert to earn a 1-0 win against Czechia and claim a perfect 3-0-0 record atop Group I at the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup. The result helped the USA win its group for just the fourth time at a FIFA U-17 World Cup and also marked the first time in 34 years that a U.S. team won all three group-stage matches at the tournament.
Ranked third overall among all group winners, the USA now moves on to the Round of 32 where it will face Morocco, who finished third in Group B, on either Nov. 14-15. FIFA will confirm the specific date and time of the match by Wednesday.
Entering the match with his team needing just a draw to win the group, U.S. head coach Gonzalo Segares made seven changes to the lineup that started the 2-1 victory against Tajikistan last Saturday. In defense, Enrique Martinez and Jordan Griffin got starting nods. Further up the pitch, Cooper Sanchez returned to his defensive midfielder role while Jude Terry and Maximo Carrizo slotted in as attacking midfielders while Julian Hall and Jamir Johnson completed the changes on the front line.
Czechia enjoyed the first clear opportunity in the match from striker Vit Skrkon. In the 14th minute, the attacker created a path into the final third and took a left-footed shot from the top of the box that struck off Aidan Stokes’ left post. Mateo Tsakiris deflected the rebound, and the ball went out for a corner kick.
The USA began to work the ball well around the pitch, involving most of the team and looking for a clear receptor in the final third against a compact Czech defense. In the 21st minute, Carrizo received the ball just outside the 18-yard-box and fired a hard, left-footed shot, but his effort was pushed away by Czech goalkeeper Adam Paar.
The U.S. began to string together some attacks and set its eyes on net once more in the 23rd minute. Cavan Sullivan received a pass from Julian Hall just outside the box, cut onto his left foot and curled the ball towards goal, but the shot flew just went wide.
Czechia recovered well, putting its foot on the gas and began to populate the U.S. half. A few corner kicks and attempts in the final third put the Americans on alert and looking for a way to hang onto the ball for more prolonged possession.
In the 42nd minute, Sullivan broke free on a counterattack. Starting his run from inside his own half, he bounced off a Czech defender, got into the box and took a shot that dragged just wide right of the net, sending the teams into halftime in a scoreless deadlock.
Segares made one substitution to start the second half, sending in Albert to replace Jamir Johnson along the left wing. Looking for a spark in attack, the USA began to apply pressure on the Czech backline with the midfield unit taking control of the ball. In the 48th minute, Terry placed a low cross into the path of Hall, but the ball passed just under the striker’s right boot.
Just one minute later, Albert played Carrizo into the box with a through ball. The NYCFC midfielder unleashed a powerful blast, forcing Paar to stretch his arms and push the ball over the net and out for a corner kick.
The U.S. asserted more control of the match, finding spaces along the wings that allowed it to create opportunities in the box. In the 61st minute, Sullivan found Albert along the left side of the box and crossed low toward the back past looking for a teammate on the other end, but Terry was a touch behind and found himself unable to make contact.
The U.S. created danger again in the 64th minute as Albert reached the Czech final third along the left touchline. He tried his luck on goal, but his shot was deflected. As the ball bounced in the box, Terry jumped and smashed a volley that rebounded hard off the crossbar, just inches from finding the net
After that close opportunity, the USA final broke through in the 78th minute as Albert was the recipient of a surgical pass, this time from Carrizo, and broke into the final third down the left. His first touch to get behind the defense was immaculate and he then opened his hips and and with inside of his right foot, hit a precise shot into the lower right corner of the net, giving the team a 1-0 lead with a little over 10 minutes left in regulation time.
The U.S. did well to apply swarming defense to preserve its lead, but as time ticked away Segares’ side suffered a setback. Looking to clear the ball, Mateo Tsakiris won a tackle in midfield but on the follow through made violent contact with the lower leg of Dominick Zajac in the process. Referee Yender Herrera initially showed him a yellow card, but after a VAR challenge from Czechia head coach Pavel Drsek, the official showed Tsakiris a red in the fourth minute of second half stoppage time, leaving him suspended for the Round of 32 match.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
- With the result, the USA (3W-0L-0D) finished on top of Group I, marking the first time in 20 years and fourth time overall that the U.S. has won its group at the FIFA U-17 World Cup (1991, 1999 and 2005).
- It’s also just the second time the USA has won all three group-stage matches at the U-17 World Cup, with the 1991 side the first to do it.
- With group stage matches now complete, the USA and Japan are the only two countries to win their groups at the three Men’s and Women’s Youth World Cups held this fall in Chile (U-20 Men’s), Morocco (U-17 Women’s) and Qatar (U-17 Men’s).
- Mathis Albert scored his first U-17 World Cup goal while Máxi Carrizo collected his first assist at the tournament.
- Through three matches, goalkeeper Aidan Stokes and the U.S. backline kept two clean sheets and surrendered just one goal.
- U.S. full back Mateo Tsakiris was shown a record card during second-half stoppage time, making him ineligible for the team’s Round of 32 match.
- Gonzalo Segares made seven changes to the lineup that faced Tajikistan on Saturday, inserting Enrique Martinez and Jordan Griffin on the back line, Maxi Carrizo, Cooper Sanchez and Jude Terry in midfield, and Julian Hall and Jamir Johnson up top.
- U.S. UNDER-17 MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT –
Match: United States Under-17 Men’s National Team vs. Czechia
Date: November 11, 2025
Competition: 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup - Group Stage
Venue: Aspire Zone Pitch 4 – Khaled Salman
Attendance: N/A
Kickoff: 5:45 p.m. local time (9:45 a.m. ET)
Weather: 80 degrees, clear
| Scoring Summary |
1 |
2 |
F |
| USA |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| CZE |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| USA – Mathis Albert (Máximo Carrizo) - 78th minute |
Lineups:
USA: 1-Aidan Stokes; 19-Mateo Tsakiris, 4-Christopher Cupps, 20-Enrique Martinez, 14-Jordan Griffin (2-Gio Villa, 70); 19-Cooper Sanchez (18-Luca Moisa, 84); 8-Jude Terry (7-Nimfasha Berchimas, 76), 10-Máximo Carrizo (Capt.); 6-Cavan Sullivan (13-Kellan LeBlanc, 83), 16-Julian Hall, 17-Jamir Johnson (11-Mathis Albert, 46)
Substitutes not used: 12-Jack Kortkamp, 21-William Lodmell, 3-Pedro Guimaraes, 5-Ramiz Hamouda, 9-Chase Adams
Head coach: Gonzalo Segares
CZE: 21-Adam Paar; 4-Milan Hendericks, 5-Martin Kovar (Capt.), 8-Lukas Vanek, 9-Vit Skrkon, 10-Jan Janega (12-Filip Hruska 70), 11-Petr Potmesil (14-Dominic Zajac, 71), 13-Sebastian Pech, 17-Adam Novak (3-Matyas Syrovatka, 83), 19-Hugo Sochurek, 20-Martin Palascak
Substitutes not used: 1-Lucas Franc, 16-Krystof Kostelny, 2-Maxim Kotisek, 6-Nikola Jadrrnicek, 7-Matyas Tomek, 15-Jan Hajek, 18-Jonas Tipic
Head coach: Pavel Drsek
Stats Summary: USA / CZE
Shots: 14 / 16
Shots on Goal: 3 / 5
Saves: 5 / 2
Corner Kicks: 3 / 7
Fouls: 7 / 18
Offside: 0 / 2
| Misconduct Summary |
| USA – Máximo Carrizo (Caution) | 57th minute |
| USA – Mateo Tsakris (Ejection) | 90+3 |
Officials:
Referee: Yender Herrera (VEN)
Assistant Referee 1: Antoni Garcia (VEN)
Assistant Referee 2: Erizon Nieto (VEN)
Fourth Official: Paulo Zanovelli (BRA)
