MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay – A place in the 2018 Under-17 Women’s World Cup Final will be at stake when Mexico and Canada square off in the semifinals on Wednesday at the Estadio Charrua in Montevideo.
It pits the first time that two Concacaf sides have ever met in the semifinal of a FIFA women’s youth tournament.
These two sides are already very familiar with each other, having played in the semifinals of the 2018 Concacaf Under-17 Women’s Championship last June in Bradenton, Florida.
In that semifinal encounter, Mexico emerged victorious 2-1 with goals from Annete Mendoza and Dania Jimenez, offsetting a strike from Teni Akindoju.
With these two Concacaf sides meeting in the semifinal, it ensures that a Concacaf team will advance to the final of the Under-17 Women’s World for just the second time in history. The United States accomplished the feat in 2008 in the inaugural edition of the Under-17 Women’s World Cup.
Wednesday’s affair will also be a battle of wits between two former Concacaf internationals, with former Mexico DF Monica Vergara leading the Tricolor and ex-Canada DF Rhian Wilkinson at the helm of the Canadians.
Mexico is coming off a dramatic 4-2 penalty shootout win over Ghana after the two teams had played to a 2-2 draw in regular time, while a late Jordyn Huitema goal helped Canada edge Germany, 1-0.
The winner will advance to Saturday’s final where it will meet the winner of Wednesday’s other semifinal between New Zealand and Spain.
