CHIBA, Japan (July 3, 2026) – The U.S. U-17 Women’s National Teamfell, 5-3, in the first of two matches against Japan during a training camp being held just outside of Tokyo. The teams will meet again on July 6 (July 5 in the USA).
This is the first action for the U.S. U-17 WNT since easily qualifying for the World Cup at the Concacaf Women’s U-17 Championship in Costa Rica last March, winning all three games in its group by a 32-0 goal scoring margin. The two matches are serving as preparation for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup which will take place at four venues in Morocco from Oct. 17-Nov. 8.
At the World Cup the USA will face Samoa, a team from Africa and China PR. The African opponent will be the winner of Path 4 in the final round of African qualifying that features South Africa and Kenya. That team won’t be decided until July 12.
Japan opened the scoring in the 10th minute through Rara Higuchi, capitalizing on an intercepted throw-in, and launched a quick transition with sharp combination play through the middle. Mei Hanashiro laid the ball back to Fuki Ito near the penalty spot, where Ito slipped a perfectly weighted pass into the path of the onrushing Higuchi. Higuchi finished in stride past the diving U.S. goalkeeper Avellina Saunders to give Japan the opening goal.
Forward Maddie DiMaria then scored twice in a three-minute span to give the USA a 2-1 lead. In the 12th minute, forward Deus Stanislaus drew a foul just outside the penalty area, for which Harura Matsushita was cautioned. Midfielder and team captain Mia Corona delivered a well-placed free kick to the back post where DiMaria rose above her marker to head the ball past the goalkeeper and level the match.
Just two minutes later, defender Venina Moodie sparked the U.S. attack with a throw-in to Stanislaus, whose flicked header found Corona at the top of the penalty area. After taking two touches to draw the defense, Corona slipped a through ball to DiMaria who timed her run between two Japanese defenders well before finishing to give the U.S. the lead.
That lasted until halftime, but two minutes into the second half, Mei Hanashiro equalized. Sana Morota won possession with a strong challenge on forward Amari Manning before quickly finding Hanashiro. Carrying the ball across the top of the penalty area, Hanashiro cut back to create space from her defender and drove a powerful shot into the bottom-right corner, just beyond the reach of Saunders.
Three minutes later, Japan was ahead. Japan built from the back through goalkeeper Kou Kadowaki before Sayana Oshita bypassed the U.S. press with a long ball over the backline. Runa Sumiya collected the pass and squared it to the unmarked Ito, who carried the ball into the penalty area and finished with her left foot inside the near post to restore Japan's lead.
Unfortunately, Japan scored again one minute later when Harura Matsushita intercepted defender Meila Brewer's pass near midfield and immediately recognized that Saunders was off her line. From the center circle, Matsushita struck a perfectly weighted first-time effort that sailed over the retreating goalkeeper and into the back of the net, extending Japan's lead.
Japan got a fifth goal in the 67th minute when Ito kept possession from a Japan throw-in and quickly linked play with Arisu Ota, who threaded a precise through ball into the six-yard area. Hanashiro arrived on cue to meet the pass and finish for her second goal of the match.
The USA pulled one back in second half stoppage time through Gotham FC forward Mak Whitham as midfielder Loradana Paletta fed her a pass. Whitham shifted direction sharply to create space before firing a shot over the outstretched hands of Kadowaki in the final seconds of the match.
These international matches are an important part of the Federation’s continued focus on the U.S. Way philosophy, which emphasizes increased programming for Youth National Teams to create more opportunities for young players to advance through the pathway to the senior National Team with the goal of representing their country at a world championship.
-U.S. UNDER-17 WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-
Match: United States U-17 Women’s National Team vs. Japan U-17 WNT
Date: July 3, 2026
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Prince Takamado Memorial JFA YUME Field; Chiba, Japan
Attendance: 120
Weather: 75 degrees, cloudy
| Scoring Summary |
1 |
2 |
F |
| USA |
2 |
1 |
3 |
| JPN |
1 |
4 |
5 |
| JPN – Rara Higuchi (Fuki Ito) | 10th minute |
| USA – Maddie DiMaria (Mia Corona) | 12 |
| USA – Maddie DiMaria (Mia Corona) | 14 |
| JPN – Mei Hanashiro (Sana Morota) | 47 |
| JPN – Fuki Ito (Runa Sumiya) | 50 |
| JPN – Harura Matsushita | 51 |
| JPN – Mei Hanashiro (Arisu Ota) | 67 |
| USA – Mak Whitham (Loradana Paletta) | 90+4 |
Lineups:
USA: 1-Avellina Saunders; 2-Gigi Zuniga (15-Georgia Restovich, 74), 4-Anaiah Williams (14-Meila Brewer, 46), 5-Maddie Maves,16-Venina Moodie (3-Elena Vera, 46); 8-Loradana Paletta, 6-Grace Murray (18-Taylor Morrell, 74), 10-Mia Corona (Capt.) (20-Khari Hontz, 81); 7-Maddie DiMaria (17-Giselle Aguilar, 62), 9-Deus Stanislaus (17-Mak Whitham, 62), 11-Amari Manning (13-Gianna Hanf, 74)
Subs not used: 12-Lola Ta
Head Coach: Ciara Crinion
JPN 1-Kou Kadowaki; 9-Sana Morota, 2-Sayana Oshita, 4-Himari Nishi (5-Rura Motegi, 85), 6-Maho Kubota (3-Wara Shimizu, 62); 13-Fuki Ito, 19-Mei Hanashiro (21-Kanna Himuro, 78), 10-Harura Matsushita (Capt.); 18-Rara Higuchi (17-Runa Sumiya, 46), 22-Kokona Nomoto (20-Arisu Ota, 62), 15-Keiko Kitajima (16-Kotone Sato, 71)
Subs not used: 7-Anri Hamasuna, 8-Izumi Wakatsuki, 11-Minori Sengoku, 12-Riruha Wakatsuki, 14-Misato Maeda, 23-Mikan Yamanaka
Head Coach: Sadayoshi Shirai
Stats Summary: USA / JPN
Shots: 8 / 34
Shots on Goal: 5 / 13
Saves: 8 / 2
Corner Kicks: 0 / 5
Fouls: 2 / 3
Offside: 3 / 1
| Misconduct Summary |
| JPN - Himari Nishi (Caution) | 12th minute |
Officials:
Referee: Misa Chiba (JPN)
Assistant Referee 1: Saori Mita (JPN)
Assistant Referee 2: Yuna Kikuchi (JPN)
