Mexico have secured the eighth and final continental berth for the FIFA U-17 World Cup™, with a 2-1 win against Trinidad and Tobago on the concluding day of action at the Concacaf Under-17 Qualifiers.
Jurgen Castaneda’s side now join Costa Rica, Cuba, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Panama and USA in flying the Concacaf flag at Qatar 2026.
Group A
Mexico Goals: Jesus Orduno (82), Adan Sanchez (86)
Trinidad and Tobago goal: Adasa Richardson (90+5) Pen
Heading into the Group A decider in Port of Spain, only an unlikely five-goal win for the hosts would have thwarted Mexico’s march towards a ninth consecutive U-17 World Cup qualification.
Although the goals came late, the two-time champions were in almost complete control throughout. Only a string of fine saves from Trinidad and Tobago’s 15-year-old goalkeeper Levi Williams – on the books of Inter Miami – saw the sides head to the interval scoreless.
There was little he could do though about Mexico’s fine opener as Jesus Orduno swept home on the end of a free-flowing 14-pass move in the 82nd minute. Four minutes later it was another substitute, Adan Sanchez, who doubled the lead, heading home a Gerson Gutierrez cross for his fifth goal of the qualifiers.
Trinidad and Tobago converted a penalty in the fifth minute of stoppage time but this was a dominant Mexican display from start to finish. On the basis of a string of eye-catching displays over the past week, the 2005 and 2011 U-17 World Cup champions will head to Qatar later in the year among the leading title contenders once again.
Picture credit: Concacaf
