Mexico made a great start to their 2026 U17 World Cup campaign by destroying Sint Maarten by a 10-0 score. Mexico got an early three goal lead but missed a number of chances before turning it on in the 2nd half against a Caribbean side that was completely out of their level from the first minute. Mexico climbs to first place in Group A and will next play against Saint Martin, who actually lost their opener against Sint Maarten.
The 1st half started with Mexico coming out with their best 11 for their debut
in the competition. A ball was left in the area where Adan Sanchez got off a right footed shot past goalkeeper, Sudesh Singh, to score and give Mexico the 1-0 lead. A right footed shot form Alan Hernandez would hit the post and be left there for Adan Sanchez to get a shot thru the arms of Singh and into the net to score and give Mexico the 2-0 lead. A bad deflection by Singh allowed Edgar Vargas to get off a bicycle kick that went wide of the wide open net. Alberto Cisneros lowered the ball in the area but his shot bounced of Singh and was cleared. Off a corner kick, Adan Sanchez would get off a header from close range past Singh to score and give Mexico the 3-0 lead. Mexico would react quickly after the goal and Noe Mota got off a right footed shot past Singh but it would hit the post. As expected, Mexico was completely dominating a team that looked out of their element in every way. A cross into the area was volleyed wide by Sanchez. A cross into the area found Sanchez but his shot was blocked by Singh and it would deflect wide off Sanchez. Another cross into the area was headed wide by Sanchez. After the ball was left there in the area for Gerson Gutierrez to get off a left footed shot that went wide. After getting the ball in the area, a shot bounced of Singh toward Mota, whose right footed shot was cleared off the line and wide. After a great run in the area, Mota got off a close range shot that was blocked by Singh and then cleared. Off a corner kick, the ball was failed to be cleared and left there for Sanchez, whose shot almost got deflected into a goal. A shot from Ricardo Gonzalez from close range would be deflected wide by Singh, who indirectly made a great save. The halftime whistle blew and Mexico was in complete control but after their flying start, they wasted a number of chances.
The 2nd half started with Mexico subbing out Andre Godinez, Marcelo Avelos, Jonathan de la Fuente and Adan Sanchez for Adonai Valdez, Johan Cuenca, Angel Reyes and Carlos Calvillo. A cross into the area was headed wide by Valdez. A throw in into the area was headed wide by Cisneros. After a cross into the area was lowered past Singh by Vargas, Mota would get a chance for a close to open net goal but send his shot well wide. After a good combination play, Hernandez got off a cross into a wide open Carlos Calvillo, who easily tapped the ball in past Singh and into the net to give Mexico the 4-0 lead. Sint Maarten subbed out Shervin Valerie, Jahier Marlin and Quile Adolphin for Ervinio Kleberg, Kedien Soleana and Jaymi Brooks. After getting into the area Cisneros got brought down and a Penalty Kick was given to Mexico. Alberto Cisneros stepped up to take the PK and his right footed shot went past Singh to score and increased Mexico’s lead to 5-0. Gutierrez made a great run but his left footed shot was blocked. Once again, Cisneros got into the area and got brought down for another PK. Alberto Cisneros stepped up to take the PK and it was almost a carbon copy of his previous one, going past Singh to give Mexico the 6-0 lead. Off a corner kick, Mexico would head in a goal that was called off for a supposed foul against Singh. Mexico subbed out Noe Mota for Luis Trujillo. A ball was failed to be cleared and left there for Trujillo, whose left footed shot from close range went wide. A cross into the area was headed wide by Trujillo. Sint Maarten would sub out Raynicio Drenthe for Cemali George. A cross into the area would find a wide open Vargas who whiffed on his shot. A great thru pass allowed Cisneros to get into the area but his low shot was saved by Singh. A ball was left there in the area for Cisneros but his left footed shot went wide. A cross into the area got past Calvillo but Alberto Cisneros would easily head the ball past the line for a goal that gave him a hat trick and gave Mexico the 7-0 lead. A great pass into the area found a wide open Luis Trujillo, whose left footed shot went past Singh and into the net to increase the lead to 8-0. A shot into the area was headed by Trujillo and it went just wide. A good combination play by Mexico ended with Luis Trujillo getting off a right footed shot past Singh to score and give Mexico the 9-0 lead. Mexico would make another great combination play and Ricardo Gonzalez would get off a left footed shot that went past Singh to score and give Mexico the 10-0 lead. Sint Maarten would sub out Daan van Ottele for Ruiz Tadimoeljo. A right footed shot in the area from Vargas would go wide. The match would end and Mexico would get their first three points in grand fashion.
Mexico started the 2026 U17 World Cup qualifiers with a solid 10-0 victory. Mexico came out with a great start before settling down after missing a number of chances. Still it was only a matter of time before they ran away as Sint Maarten was just out of their element. They physically looked to not be ready for this match and it was expected that they will tire out and falter which is what they did in the 2nd half. Mexico will now face off on Saturday against Saint Martin, who lost to Sint Maarten by a 3-0 score. Mexico also came into the match with the news that Barbados had upset host Trinidad and Tobago in their opener by a 1-0 score. This means Mexico is even more favored to win the only spot for the 2026 U17 World Cup after hosts Trinidad and Tobago now have three points less than expected and might be out of the tournament when they play Mexico in the final match of the group stage. Mexico will play against Saint Martin on Saturday at afternoon time they did today.
