A three goal start placed Mexico in route to a 4-1 victory over Barbados in their third math of the 2026 U17 World Cup qualifiers. In a battle of leaders of Group A, Mexico came out swinging and later on were able to manage the game to get the three key points. Mexico is now a single point away to qualify for the 2026 U17 World Cup and even a loss can still get them thru because of goal difference. Mexico will close out the group stage against hosts Trinidad and Tobago, who overcame Barbados to get to 2nd
place of the group, while Barbados faces earlier on Thursday against Saint Martin, needing to score a lot of goals and get help from Trinidad and Tobago.
The 1st half started with Mexico going back to their main starting 11 for this important match. Two minutes into the match, a great cross into the area from Gerson Gutierrez was headed into the area by Noe Mota. There it would find Edgar Vargas, whose right footed shot went past Barbados’ goalkeeper, Kaliq Lashley and into the net to give Mexico the early 1-0 lead. A longball would allow Adan Sanchez to get to the ball and get off a cross into the area where a wide open Noe Mota would get to it and get off a left footed shot past Lashley to give Mexico the 2-0 lead five minutes into the match. It was a great start as Mexico had shell shocked Barbados. From way outside the area, Mota would get off a right footed shot that would go wide. A cross into the area found Alberto Cisneros, who got off a shot that was blocked by Lashley. Yet the clearance went right to Adan Sanchez, who got off a left footed shot past the goalkeeper and into the net to give Mexico the 3-0 lead. In less than 10 minutes, Mexico had a solid lead that almost looked like it had settled the result. A ball left in the area would turn into a shot well wide from Barbados. From outside the area, Ricardo Gonzalez got off a left footed shot that went well wide. Mota would get into the area but his right footed shot was blocked by Lashley and then cleared by Barbado’s defense. After a bad jump, Andre Godinez looked to have injured himself and needed medical attention but he would remain in the match. From outside the area, Nicholai Benton got off a left footed shot that hit the post in the most dangerous opportunity that Mexico had faced in the tournament so far. The whistle blew and Mexico had a great start but had steadily lowered their intensity which helped Barbados gain more possession by the end of it.
The 2nd half started with Mexico subbing out Ricardo Gonzalez, Alberto Cisneros and Dylan Martinez for Edy Lugo, Angel Reyes and Adonai Valdez. In the first minute of the half, off a corner kick, the ball was headed by Barbados defense and as Mexico tried to clear the ball off the line, it bounced off Mexico’s goalkeeper, Marcelo Avalos and into the net for the own goal that placed the score at 3-1. For the first time in the tournament, Mexico had allowed a goal. Off a corner kick, the cross into the area found Godinez but his header would go just wide. Mexico subbed out Noe Mota for Luis Trujillo. Barbados subbed out Maleek Peters and Ashaun Grecia for Davion Thorne and Reuben Garnes-Alleyne. Off a free kick, the original shot would be blocked but fall back to Luis Trujillo, who got off a great left footed shot from outside the area that was slightly deflected to go past Lashley and into the net to score and give Mexico the 4-1 lead. Mexico had gotten back their three goal advantage and looked again primed to take the three points. A cross into the area would find a wide open Trujillo but his left footed shot was brilliantly saved by Lashley. Barbados subbed out Tyrico Bellamy and Jamarco Johnson for Amari Small and Jemari Henry. Mexico subbed out Edgar Vargas for Gael Solario in a surprising defensive move. A good chance could have gone thru but Sanchez couldn’t get to the ball before it was cleared. He would have had a 1 vs 1 chance had he gotten to it. Barbados subbed out the injured Tye Waterman for Tarrell Nightengale. Off a corner kick, Reyes got off a cross that turned into a shot and forced Lashley to make a save. It was the last play of the match as Mexico got the win and where now with one foot in the 2026 U17 World Cup.
Mexico made it 3 wins out of 3 matches with their victory against Barbados. Mexico’s fantastic start ended up settling things and although they slowed down their intensity, they were able to get the key win. With the win now Mexico sits at 9 points which means that both Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados can only tie them at points if they both win their matches in the last stage. If Mexico gets a tie against Trinidad and Tobago, they are thru regardless of the result between Barbados and Saint Martin. Also going into the match, Mexico sits at +17 goals while Trinidad and Tobago +8 and Barbados at +4. This means that they not only have to win but win big, which also helps Mexico’s case. It all means that it Mexico would have to have the biggest disaster in Mexican football history for them to no qualify to the U17 World Cup and yet the matches still have to be played and it will not be easy for Mexico on Thursday. Yet the victory against Barbados has really increased their chances to make it once again to the competition where Mexico has gotten their best results.
