Mexico top Argentina on PKs; Canada, USA exit in Round of 32 of FIFA U-17 World Cup | OneFootball

DOHA, Qatar – The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 continued on Friday with three Concacaf nations participating in the Round of 32 at the Aspire Zone in Doha, Qatar.

All three countries went to a penalty shootout to decide their respective encounters. Mexico was the lone side to advance to the Round of 16, while Canada and USA saw their campaigns come to an end.

Mexico 2 (5), Argentina 2 (4)

Mexico and Argentina drew 2-2, with the Concacaf side advancing 5-4 on penalties, at Aspire Zone - Pitch 2 in Doha, Qatar.

Argentina took the lead in the 9’ through Ramiro Tulian.

Luis Gamboa struck a brace to start the second half, first equalizing in the 46’ before taking the lead for Mexico in the 58’.

Fernando Closter scored for Argentina in the 87’ to force the match to a penalty shootout.

Mexican goalkeeper Santiago Lopez made a big save to start the spot kicks to deny Argentina’s Gaston Bouhier. Lopez then converted the winning penalty in the fifth round of kicks to give Mexico the ticket to the Round of 16.

El Tricolor will face Portugal on Tuesday for a shot at the Quarterfinals.

Post Match Stats 

●      Mexico won for the second consecutive time on penalties, after advancing in the semifinals against the Netherlands in 2019, finishing 1-1 and winning 4-3 from the spot. They will compete in the round of 16 for the eighth time in a row in the competition.

●      Luis Gamboa scored two goals against Argentina, marking the second time a Mexican player has scored two or more goals in a non-group stage match at the FIFA U-17 World Cup since at least 2013. Iván Ochoa also did so against Argentina in 2013 in a 3-0 semifinal win.

●      This is the first time Mexico has come from behind to draw in the current FIFA U-17 World Cup. Counting the last six editions, it has done so three times before: against Venezuela 2-2 in 2023, the Netherlands 1-1 in 2019, and Iraq 1-1 in 2017.

●      Ian Olvera has the second-highest number of goal contributions by a defender in the current FIFA U-17 World Cup with three, surpassed only by Jonathan Kalimina of Zambia and José Neto of Portugal (four each). The Mexican player has scored one goal and provided two assists in the competition.

●      Despite being outplayed in the first half by Argentina in possession (80% to 20%), shots (7 to 3), and expected goals (0.53 to 0.46), Mexico managed to score two goals at the start of the second half from their first two shots on target and had more xG than La Albiceleste in the entire second half (1.22 to 0.82).

Canada 1 (8), Republic of Ireland 1 (9)

Canada tied 1-1 with the Republic of Ireland, with the European side advancing 9-8 on penalties, at Aspire Zone - Pitch 4 in Doha, Qatar.

The Republic of Ireland took the lead in the 65’ through Michael Noonan.

Canada equalized in the 85’ through Sergei Kozlovskiy.

The Reds fell in sudden death of the penalty shootout to exit the tournament.

Post Match Stats

●      This is the first time Canada has faced a penalty shootout in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, losing after the second-longest shootout in the competition (9-8) after Brazil vs. Mexico in 2013, where the Verdeamarela won 11-10 in this instance.

●      Despite outshining Ireland in attempts (15-11) in the match, Canada had fewer shots on target (3-7) and accumulated fewer expected goals than their opponent (0.68-1.87).

●      Josh-Duc achieved the highest pass completion percentage in a FIFA U-17 World Cup match among Canadian players with 50+ passes for the second time: 95% (55 of 58) against Uganda and today with 94% (51 of 48) against Ireland.

●      This is the third time a substitute player has been involved in a goal at the current FIFA U-17 World Cup, with Marius Aiyenero scoring against Uganda, Aghilas Sadek assisting against the same opponent, and today Sergei Kozlovskiy against Ireland.

USA 1 (3), Morocco 1 (4)

The United States of America tied 1-1 with Morocco, with the latter advancing 4-3 on penalties, at Aspire Zone - Pitch 7 in Doha, Qatar.

Jude Terry placed the U.S. in front in the 21’ with a right-footed strike.

Morocco equalized in the 90’ by way of Abdellah Ouazane.

Cooper Sanchez and Maxi Carrizo saw their attempts saved in the shootout as the African side advanced to the next round.