USMNT crushes opponent 22-0 in World Cup quest, sets shocking new record | OneFootball

The U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team didn’t hold back, making history with a ruthless 22-0 victory over the U.S. Virgin Islands in the opening match of the Concacaf U-17 World Cup qualifiers. It was an offensive masterclass, with Chase Adams netting 10 goals, setting a new record for any U.S. player in a World Cup qualifying match.

The match had barely started when the USMNT made it clear what was coming. Two minutes in goal. Five minutes another. By the 13th minute, it was already 5-0. By halftime, the scoreboard showed 11-0, turning the game into what looked more like a training session than a competitive match. When the final whistle blew, the stats were staggering: 53 shots to zero, 78% possession.

It was an overwhelming display of dominance, but against a team that was clearly outmatched. This wasn’t just a historic night for the USMNT, but also for international soccer, as it surpassed some of the most lopsided scores seen in World Cup qualifiers — even at the senior level.

A rising star or a product of weak opposition?

Without question, Chase Adams stole the show. The forward, already regarded as one of the brightest young prospects in American soccer, scored 10 goals, etching his name into the record books. But how much weight should this achievement really carry?

Adams' talent is undeniable, but when a team concedes this many goals, it raises bigger questions. This was a one-way traffic game, where every mistake by the U.S. Virgin Islands was ruthlessly punished by an opponent that barely had to break a sweat.

Concacaf’s competitive imbalance

As much as this win is historic, it also brings up an uncomfortable conversation: how fair is a competition where the skill gap between teams is this massive?

Concacaf has long been criticized for these lopsided matchups, with certain nations playing more as fillers than real contenders. And while it’s a great confidence booster for teams like the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, does it really help their development when they’re essentially playing glorified scrimmages?

For the USMNT, this was a walk in the park. But for the players on the U.S. Virgin Islands squad, a 22-0 defeat is a psychological gut punch. Losing this badly doesn’t just expose the talent gap — it raises serious concerns about the structure and competitiveness of soccer in smaller nations.

What’s next for the USMNT?

With a video game-like goal difference, the U.S. sits comfortably at the top of Group F and will face St. Kitts and Nevis in the next match. The real question now is whether they can keep up this relentless pace or if they’ll finally encounter some resistance as the tournament progresses.

But at the end of the day, the true test for this squad won’t be demolishing weaker teams, it’ll be proving they can deliver this same level of dominance against real contenders.