The U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team kicked off the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso, thanks to a late goal from substitute Cavan Sullivan in the 79th minute. This win positions the U.S. second in Group I, setting up a crucial match against Tajikistan on Saturday, November 8.
This match was notable as it was a rematch of their encounter at the previous U-17 World Cup in Indonesia in 2023, where the U.S. also triumphed 2-1. In that game, Keyrol Figueroa and Nimfasha Berchimas, who returned for the current tournament, contributed to the scoreline.
From the outset, both teams were eager to claim an early advantage. The U.S. nearly opened the scoring with a promising play by Berchimas, whose low cross was intercepted by Burkina Faso’s goalkeeper, Rahim Ouattara. Shortly after, Burkina Faso earned a corner that led to a powerful header from Fadil Barro, brilliantly saved by U.S. keeper Aidan Stokes.
The first half saw a mix of opportunities, but neither team could break the deadlock. The U.S. adopted a possession-based strategy while Burkina Faso relied on quick counterattacks, with both defenses maintaining composure.
As the second half progressed, Burkina Faso intensified their pressure, creating several dangerous moments but failing to capitalize. Meanwhile, the U.S. resilience paid off over time. In the game’s final minutes, after a well-placed cross from Mathis Albert, Sullivan struck decisively for the only goal, sealing a clean sheet for his team.
Sullivan made a notable impact coming off the bench, marking a successful debut in the U-17 World Cup with his goal. Aidan Stokes was instrumental in the victory, making four critical saves to preserve the clean sheet. Additionally, Berchimas made history as the first U.S. player to compete in two FIFA U-17 World Cups, highlighting his significant role on this young team.
With this win, the U.S. improves its record in opening matches at the FIFA U-17 World Cup to 10 wins against 8 losses and 1 draw, and also shows a positive trend against teams from the African Football Confederation. The American squad now looks forward to their upcoming match, eager to build on this strong start in their World Cup campaign.