SOSNOWIEC, Poland – With a berth to the Spherical of 16 on the 2026 FIFA U-20 Ladies’s World Cup on the road in its remaining Group D match, the U.S. Underneath-20 Ladies’s Nationwide Crew placed on a spectacular efficiency to roll previous New Zealand, 9-0, and qualify for event’s Spherical of 16.

U.S. captain and Bay FC midfielder Kennedy Fuller bagged a hat trick, the sixth three-goal efficiency for a U.S. participant in FIFA U-19/U-20 Ladies’s World Cup historical past – together with her third coming from the penalty spot – whereas Washington Huskie ahead Alex Buck tallied twice, bringing her World Cup whole to a few as properly. Houston Sprint midfielder Linda Ullmark, Chicago Stars ahead Micayla Johnson, Seattle Reign FC ahead Emeri Adames and UNC ahead Sealey Strawn, who got here on within the second half, every bagged particular person targets.

The 9-0 victory set a file for the biggest margin of victory ever for a U.S. group at a FIFA U-20 Ladies’s World Cup, surpassing the 7-0 win over Paraguay in 2024 in Colombia.

The USA will advance as one among 4 finest third-place groups however should wait till the conclusion of group play tomorrow to solidify its knockout spherical opponent.

U.S. head coach Vicky Jepson made two modifications to the beginning XI that drew with Japan on Sept. 9, giving UNC defender Hope Munson and Stanford’s Y-Lan Nguyen their first begins of the event. Nguyen performed within the midfield rather than Seattle Reign FC’s Ainsley McCammon, who was held out as a consequence of a minor damage. Each gamers excelled and the Individuals confirmed no letdown, scoring twice within the first six minutes whereas retaining the strain on New Zealand for the complete 90 minutes. The USA out-shot New Zealand, a group that had misplaced 2-1 to group runners-up Japan and 3-0 to group winner Italy, by 41-1 margin. The USA’s anticipated targets whole was a exceptional 8.94.

In want of a win and targets to ensure development, the USA acquired on the board in simply the fourth minute. Adames despatched a lofty cross into the field which New Zealand goalkeeper Brooke Neary acquired a hand to however punched to the ft of Munson on the prime of the penalty field. Munson dribbled exhausting to the endline and crossed on the bottom to Buck, who completed first-time from shut vary for her second purpose in as many video games. She would get a second later within the match.

With the Kiwis underneath immense strain, the U.S. doubled the lead within the sixth minute. New Zealand tried to clear the ball however once more it acquired solely as far on the prime of the field. Fuller got here operating onto the poorly cleared ball, corralled it and dribbled via a number of New Zealand gamers earlier than ripping a left-footed a shot again throughout the purpose mouth and into the decrease proper nook. A full-stretch dive from Neary was not sufficient to get a hand on the ball.

The USA continued to batter the New Zealand purpose, sending in harmful crosses from Adames on the left and Chicago Stars ahead Micayla Johnson on the best. Johnson specifically terrorized the left facet of the Kiwi protection and will have scored a pair extra herself.

After three photographs on purpose and 5 photographs whole via the thirty eighth minute, Johnson acquired her purpose. Working properly with Munson all afternoon, the pair discovered one another once more as Munson crossed to Johnson on the prime proper nook of the six-yard field. Johnson took a looping shot that pressured a formidable save from Neary. The ball nearly dropped within the purpose, however a New Zealand defender was in a position to clear it. Sadly for the Kiwis, it hit Adames in her midsection and rebounded within the air again to Johnson close to the best publish, and she or he headed dwelling from shut vary.

It was the second purpose of this World Cup for Johnson and the second consecutive World Cup by which she has scored multiple purpose after scoring twice in 2025 FIFA U-17 Ladies’s World Cup.

The U.S. would bury another alternative simply earlier than halftime. Within the forty third minute Munson was once more the creator, dribbling round a defender on the best facet of the penalty space. From the endline, she lower a move again to Ullmark, who used a comfortable, redirected contact to ship the ball off the left publish and slowly over the purpose line for her first World Cup purpose. It was Munson’s second official help on the day, however she additionally performed an enormous half within the USA’s third and seventh targets.

The U.S. maintained intense strain via the primary 10 minutes of the second half however wouldn’t get one other purpose till the 58th minute, after which it was two targets in two minutes, each involving Adames. Y-Lan Nguyen despatched a protracted diagonal ball as much as Adames on the left, and she or he took off down the flank with Buck shifting together with her the entire approach. Adames took a definitive contact to push previous the retreating defenders and crossed on the bottom to anBuck, who break up two defenders and redirected the ball into the purpose to make it 5-0. It earned her a primary World Cup brace after scoring her first World Cup purpose within the 2-2 draw vs. Japan on Sept. 9.

Adames would rush up the left facet for the sixtieth minute purpose as properly. Fuller performed the same ball to Adames because the one which began the final scoring alternative. This time, Adames corralled it and surveyed the sector earlier than taking part in it up the road to Ullmark who laid again to Adames on the run on the prime left nook of the field. Adames swept in, scooped the ball up together with her left foot and shot to the far publish for her first U-20 World Cup purpose after choosing up 4 assists in seven video games on the 2024 FIFA U-20 Ladies’s World Cup and startring each video games to this point right here in Poland.

Fuller proved queen of the second ball on the afternoon and turned one other one into her second purpose of the match, this one coming within the 83rd minute. Munson helped to create once more as she organized a give-and-go withNotre Dame ahead Lily Joseph. Munson ran onto the main ball from Joseph and with one contact, crossed to second half substitute Nyanya Touray, who acquired a contact on it, however Neary made one other spectacular save. Fuller got here operating onto the rebound and shot into the wide-open left facet of the purpose to tie the U.S. file for many targets in a U-20 Ladies’s World Cup match.

Strawn, who performed the higher a part of two seasons within the USL Tremendous League for the Dallas Trinity, wouldn’t accept a tied file, and the 73rd minute sub acquired a purpose of her personal within the 87th minute. Fuller despatched the ball to Strawn on the run up the left flank, and she or he laid it off Touray, who performs her faculty soccer at Florida State. Touray took two touches and used her again heel to ship it again to Strawn operating into the field. She took one contact after which struck together with her proper foot to attain again on the again publish once more.

The icing on prime of the cake was Fuller scoring a hat trick to shut out the match. Touray broke via the New Zealand again line Neary dove to make the save however caught Touray on the foot as a substitute. The referee despatched the U.S. to the penalty spot and Fuller stepped as much as bury it to make it 9-0.

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:

USA – Alex Buck (Hope Munson),4thminute: Emeri Adames despatched a lofty cross into the field which New Zealand goalkeeper Brooke Neary punched to the ft of Munson. Munson dribbled exhausting to the endline and crossed the ball again to an unmarked Buck within the six-yard field. Buck completed together with her first contact from three yards out. USA 1, NZL 0

USA – Kennedy Fuller, seventh minute: The U.S. pressured one other poor clearance from New Zealand that solely made it to the highest of the Kiwis’ field. Fuller got here operating onto it and dribbled via a number of New Zealand gamers into the left facet of the field earlier than taking a well-struck left-footed shot and burying the ball contained in the far publish. USA 2, NZL 0

USA – Micayla Johnson (Emeri Adames),38thminute:  Munson crossed to Johnson on the prime proper nook of the six-yard field. Johnson took a looping shot that pressured a formidable save from Neary and a New Zealand defender was in a position to clear it. The tried clear hit Adames and rebounded again to Johnson close to the best publish. She headed dwelling from shut vary. USA 3, NZL 0

USA – Linda Ullmark (Hope Munson), forty third minute: Munson created one more alternative, dribbling round a defender on the best facet of the penalty space. From the endline, she lower a move again to Ullmark, who used a comfortable redirected contact to ship the ball off the left publish and slowly over the purpose line for her first World Cup purpose. USA 4, NZL 0

USA – Alex Buck (Emeri Adames),58th minute:  Y-Lan Nguyen despatched a protracted diagonal ball as much as Adames, who took off with down the left flank. Adames took a definitive contact to push previous her marking defenders and crossed to an unmarked Buck who redirected the ball into the purpose. USA 5, NZL 0

USA – Emeri Adames (Linda Ullmark), sixtieth minute: Kennedy Fuller performed the same ball to Adames because the one which began the final scoring alternative. This time, corralled it and surveyed the sector earlier than taking part in it up the road to Ullmark who stepped over to her left, in the reduction of to her proper and laid it off to Adames on the run on the prime left nook of the field. Adames swept in, scooped the ball up together with her left foot and shot throughout the purpose. USA 6, NZL 0

USA – Kennedy Fuller, 83rd minute: Hope Munson helped to create once more as she organized a give-and-go with Notre Dame ahead Lily Joseph. Munson ran onto the main ball from Joseph and with one contact, crossed to Touray who took a shot, however Neary made one other spectacular save. Fuller got here operating onto the rebound and shot into the wide-open left facet of the purpose. USA 7, NZL 0

USA – Sealey Strawn (Nyanya Touray), 87th minute: Fuller despatched the ball to Strawn on the run up the left flank. Strawn laid it off to Touray, who took two touches and used her again heel to ship it again to Strawn operating into the field. She took one contact and struck together with her proper foot to ship the ball contained in the again publish. USA 8, NZL 0

USA – Kennedy Fuller (Penalty Kick), 90+2nd minute:  Nyanya Touray received a penalty kick for the U.S. after the New Zealand goalkeeper caught her ankle in an try to avoid wasting the breakaway. Fuller stepped to the spot and buried the ultimate U.S. purpose of the evening. USA 9, NZL 0 FINAL

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

• In her second World Cup begin, Alex Buck scored her second and third FIFA World Cup targets at any stage, which had been her third and fourth U-20 targets general. Buck is the tenth participant to attain an actual brace in a FIFA U-20 Ladies’s World Cup match for the USA.
• Kennedy Fuller has now scored seven World Cup targets (4 on the 2024 FIFA U-17 Ladies’s World Cup) and 5 targets on the U-20 stage in any competitors.
• Micayla Johnson’s purpose was the fourth for the Chicago Stars striker on the U-20 stage and her second of the event. Johnson is taking part in in her third FIFA youth World Cup over three consecutive years and has scored in all of them, having additionally tallied within the 2024 and 2025 FIFA U-17 Ladies’s World Cups. She is the primary American participant to realize that feat. Johnson scored 9 targets in 18 caps on the U-17 stage. Throughout the three World Cups, Johnson has scored 5 targets. One in 2024, two in 2025 and two to date in 2026.
• Emeri Adames’ purpose was her first World Cup purpose and her third purpose on the U-20 stage. She has eight World Cup assists throughout all ranges. One help on the 2022 FIFA U-17 WWC, 4 on the 2024 FIFA U-17 WWC, one vs. Italy within the USA’s first match, and two tonight.
• Linda Ullmark’s purpose was her first World Cup purpose and seventh purpose on the U-20 stage. She is the USA’s main scorer this 12 months.
• Sealey Strawn’s purpose was her first World Cup purpose and her first purpose on the U-20 stage.
• This match represents probably the most targets a U.S. group has scored in FIFA U-20 Ladies’s World Cup historical past. The second most was in 2024 when the U.S. defeated Paraguay 7-0 on Sept. 7, 2024. Earlier than then, the U.S. received 6-0 thrice in FIFA U-20 historical past, as soon as in 2018 over Paraguay and twice within the very first FIFA Ladies’s World Cup for this age group, the 2002 FIFA U-19 Ladies’s World Cup — one coming towards Chinese language Taipei and one towards Denmark.
• Fuller is the sixth U.S. participant to attain a hat trick within the FIFA U-20 Ladies’s World Cup. The opposite 5 gamers are Kelly Wilson (Aug. 25, 2002, vs. Denmark), Sydney Leroux (July 17, 2010, vs. Switzerland), Maya Hayes (Aug. 20, 2012, vs. Ghana), Savannah DeMelo (Aug. 8, 2018, vs. Paraguay) and Pietra Tordin (Sept. 7, 2024, vs. Paraguay).
• Goalkeeper Caroline Birkel, defenders Ella Bard and Lizzie Boamah and midfielder Kennedy Fuller are the one 4 gamers who’ve performed all 270 minutes of the event to this point.
• Seven completely different gamers have scored the targets for the USA on this event, three from Kennedy Fuller and Alex Buck, two from Micayla Johnson and one every from Linda Ullmark, Emeri Adames, Sealey Strawn and Ainsley McCammon, for a complete of 12 targets within the group stage. The USA scored extra targets within the group stage than any group to this point besides Spain, which had an 11-0 win over New Caledonia.
• Ainsley McCammon and Pearl Cecil had been each held out of the match for precautionary causes after struggling minor knocks within the days previous the match. Cecil is the one subject participant but to characteristic within the event.
• This was the first-ever assembly for USA and New Zealand in a FIFA U-20 WWC despite the fact that the Kiwis are collaborating of their tenth consecutive FIFA event at this age stage and the USA is taking part in in its 12thconsecutive event.

-U.S. UNDER-20 WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-

Match: United States Underneath-20 Ladies’s Nationwide Crew vs. New Zealand Underneath-20 Ladies’s Nationwide Crew
Date: Sept. 12, 2026
Competitors: 2026 FIFA Underneath-20 Ladies’s World Cup – Group D
Venue: Area Sosnowiec; Sosnowiec, Poland
Attendance: 375
Kickoff: 3 p.m. native (9 a.m. ET)
Climate: 61 levels, cloudy

Lineups:

USA: 1-Caroline Birkel; 14-Hope Munson, 5-Lizzie Boamah, 4-Ella Bard, 3-Emma Johnson (2-Aven Alvarez, 73); 8-Kennedy Fuller (Capt.), 16-Y-Lan Nguyen, 10-Linda Ullmark (13-Katie Scott, 73); 17-Micayla Johnson (19-Sealey Strawn, 73), 9-Alex Buck (18-Nyanya Touray, 63), 11-Emeri Adames (20-Lily Joseph, 63)

Substitutes not used: 7-Audrey McKeen,12-EvanO’Steen,21-KealeyTitmuss

Did Not Costume: 6-Ainsley McCammon, 15-Pearl Cecil

Head coach: Vicky Jepson

NZL: 1-Brooke Neary; 13-Freya Des Fountain 5-Alyssha Eglinton, 4-Charli Dunn, 17-Grace Duncan (2-Penny Brill, 79); 6-Daisy Brazendale, 14-Mikaela Bangalan (16-Amber De Wit, 65), 7-Grace Bartlett (18-Poppy O’Brien, 66), 8-Charlotte Mortlock, 11-Emily Lyon (9-Pia Vlok, 46); 20-Laura Bennett (19-Lily Brazendale, 46)

Substitutes not used: 3-Mackenzie Greene, 10-Zoe Benson, 12-Scarlett Grey, 15-Charley March, 21-Nienke Holland

Head coach: Callum Holmes

Stats Abstract: USA / NZL

Photographs: 41 / 1

Photographs on Objective: 21 / 0

Saves: 0 / 12

Nook Kicks: 11 / 0

Fouls: 12 / 8

Offside: 5 / 1

Officers:
Referee: Anahi Fernandez (URU)
AR1: Daiana Fernandez (URU)
AR2: Belen Clavijo (URU)
Fourth Official: Marta Huerta (ESP)
VAR: Rodrigo Carvajal (CHI)
Asst. VAR: Salima Mukansanga (RWA)