MIAMI – The 2025 Concacaf Women’s U-20 Championship continues Friday with the Semifinals at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

Each nation qualified by finishing top two in their respective groups. Additionally, the four semifinalists have clinched a berth in the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.

Mexico vs. Costa Rica 

Defending champions Mexico go head-to-head with hosts Costa Rica to decide the first finalist in the Women’s U-20 Championship Final.

This matchup will feature the co-leaders in the Top Scorer race in Mexico’s Montserrat Saldívar and Costa Rica’s Sheika Scott, each with five goals apiece.

Mexico claimed first place in Group B with a 3-0-0 record in the Group Stage. The latest victory came from a 4-2 result against fellow semifinalist Canada. Saldívar struck a brace to extend her tally. Abril Fragoso, Deiry Ramírez, Alice Soto has each contributed two goals each to one of the top offenses in the tournament.

Costa Rica will seek to make history by advancing to its first final. Las Ticas finished second in Group A with a 2-0-1 record. Sheika Scott       has one assist to go with her five goals and leads the nation with six goal contributions. Goalkeeper Valeria Fernández delivered two clean sheets in the Group Stage.

History in Semifinals

The Mexico U-20 Women’s National Team will be playing in the semifinals of the Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship for the 12th time in its history. Since 2004, they’ve played in every semifinal, only missing the inaugural edition in 2002.

Out of the 11 semifinal appearances, Mexico advanced to the final six times (54.5%), including four consecutive occasions. In six of their last eight semifinal appearances, Mexico eliminated Canada in 2010, Costa Rica in 2014, Canada again in 2018, Haiti in 2020, and Canada once more in 2022 and 2023.

Mexico was eliminated in the semifinals by the United States in 2004, 2006, and 2012, and twice by Canada in 2008 and 2015.

Mexico’s top scorer in semifinals is Verónica Charlyn Corral (2), who scored against Canada in 2008 and 2010. Her goal in the 104th minute in 2010 secured a 1-0 win to eliminate Canada.


Sixth semifinal for Costa Rica

Costa Rica will play in the Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship semifinals for the sixth time. They have never advanced past this stage, scoring just three goals and conceding 15.

Costa Rica is the Central American nation with the most semifinal appearances (5), followed by Panama (1) and Honduras (1), and is the only Central American team to reach back-to-back semifinals (2008, 2010).

Costa Rica’s top scorers in semifinals are Raquel Rodríguez Cedeño (1), Jazmín Elizondo Villalobos (1), and Sheika Daleicha Scott (1).


Mexico and Costa Rica meet in the semifinals after 11 years

Mexico and Costa Rica will face off in the semifinals for the second time, 11 years after their only previous semifinal meeting on January 17, 2014. Mexico won that match 3-1 with goals from Paloma Zermeño (32’), Fabiola Ibarra (67’), and Jessica Valadéz (73’). Costa Rica’s goal came from Jazmín Villalobos (17’).


Mexico leads the all-time series

In the all-time series at the Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship, Mexico has two wins: a 3-1 semifinal victory in 2014 and a 3-0 win in the 2023 Group B matchday 3. Costa Rica’s only win was a 4-3 result in the third-place match in 2004. The teams also drew 2-2 in the third-place match in 2008, with Mexico winning in penalties.

The top scorers in the all-time series are Mexico’s Maribel Flores Hernández (2 in 2023), and Costa Rica’s Mariam Montes (2 in 2004) and Raquel Rodríguez Cedeño (2 in 2008).

 

 

United States vs. Canada 

The United States and Canada will add another chapter to their rivalry to decide the second finalist in the 2025 edition.

The U.S. features the highest-scoring offense with 15 team goals and the best defense with one goal conceded. Izzy Engle leads the way in attack with four goals, closely followed by Mary Long with three and Kennedy Fuller with two.

Canada also features one of the top offenses in the tournament with Annabelle Chukwu leading the way with four goals. Teegan Melenhorst and Liana Tarasco have each added two goals apiece and will also be players to follow.

History in Semifinals

The United States has played in 11 consecutive semifinals at the Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship from 2002 to 2023, only missing the inaugural edition due to a four-team round-robin format.

Of those 11 semifinals, the United States advanced to the final every time, with 10 wins and one draw (1-1) against Haiti in the 2018 edition (Jaelin Marie Howell scored in the 76th for the U.S., and Nérilia Mondésir equalized in the 90+2’ for Haiti). The match was decided by a penalty shootout, with the U.S. winning 3-0 on January 26, 2018.

The United States has scored 48 goals and conceded just 3. The top scorers are Angela Woznuk (3), Simone Peyton Jackson (3), and Brianna Pinto (3).

Tenth semifinal for Canada

Canada will be playing in the semifinals of the Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship for the 10th time in history. From 2004 to 2012, they reached five consecutive semifinals, their longest such streak.

Canada has been eliminated in the last three editions, all at the hands of Mexico: in 2018, 2022, and 2023.

Canada’s top scorer in semifinals is Christabel Oppong Oduro (2), who scored twice against Panama in 2012. She remains the only Canadian to score a brace in a semifinal.

First-ever semifinal between the United States and Canada

The United States and Canada have met seven times at the Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship, but this will be their first semifinal clash. The previous encounters came in finals (5), quarterfinals (1), and group stage (1).

United States leads in finals

In final matches, the U.S. holds the edge with three titles compared to Canada’s two.

United States leads the all-time series

In the overall series, the United States has the upper hand with five wins (2006 final, 2012 final, 2015 final, 2020 quarterfinals, and 2023 Group A matchday 3) and two losses (2004 and 2008 finals).

The top scorers in the all-time series are the Americans Allyson Marie Sentnor (2 in 2023) and Mia Renee Fishel (2 in 2020), and Canadian Aysha Jamani (2, with one in 2004 and one in 2006).