Junior Starlets 6-1 USA Loss Leaves Kenya on Brink of U-17 Exit

The Junior Starlets are on the brink of leaving the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup after a 6-1 defeat to the United States in Morocco on Thursday, with American forward Maddie DiMaria scoring four times. Two games into Group E, Kenya have no points, one goal scored and nine conceded.

Mildred Cheche's side now face Samoa on Sunday, 25 October, needing a win and a lot of help from elsewhere. Here is how the match went, where the group stands and what this campaign tells us about Kenya's youth women's game.

How the USA Beat the Junior Starlets

The game was effectively settled before half-time. DiMaria opened the scoring inside the first five minutes and added a second midway through the half, finishing a through ball from Madeline Maves.

Two penalties followed, both awarded after VAR checks. DiMaria converted the first to complete her hat-trick and the second on the stroke of half-time, sending the USA into the break 4-0 up.

Loradana Paletta made it five early in the second half and Gianna Hanf added a sixth in stoppage time. Kenya did get a reward at the very end, when Lindey Atieno struck a long-range consolation goal. Goalkeeper Mishel Okoyo also made several late saves that kept the score from growing further, and VAR ruled out another American goal after the break.

Two Games, Nine Goals Conceded

The USA result follows a 3-0 opening loss to China on Monday. Against the Chinese, Kenya conceded early and then twice more in the second half. Across both games the pattern has been similar: Kenya create some chances, but struggle to stop sustained pressure and switch off at key moments.

Cheche identified finishing as the problem after the China game. "I think we did well in creating chances, but now we must work on converting them," she told The Standard. Against the USA the bigger issue was defensive: conceding twice from penalties and four times before the break left the team with no route back.

Context matters too. This American side opened the tournament by beating Samoa 17-0, a record scoreline for the competition, and DiMaria has been their main scoring threat in both games. Few teams at this level would have kept them out.

Group E Standings After Two Rounds

The USA and China have both won their first two games and have six points each, which guarantees them the top two places in Group E. Kenya and Samoa are both without a point, which sets up Sunday's meeting as a battle for third place.

Kenya's goal difference after two games stands at minus eight. Samoa's is far worse after the 17-0 loss to the USA and a defeat to China, so a Kenyan win on Sunday would almost certainly secure third spot.

What Kenya Need Against Samoa

The route to the Round of 16 now runs only through the best third-placed teams. To have any chance, the Junior Starlets must beat Samoa, ideally by a wide margin, and then hope results in the other groups go their way. With three points and a heavy negative goal difference, Kenya would be relying on other third-placed teams finishing with fewer points.

Some Kenyan outlets have already described the team as out of the tournament. The more cautious reading is that Kenya are all but eliminated: the door is barely open, and only a big win can keep it that way. Either way, the Samoa game is a chance to earn a first win of the campaign and finish with pride.

What This Means for Kenyan Women's Football

This is only Kenya's second appearance at the U-17 Women's World Cup. At their debut in the Dominican Republic in 2024, the Junior Starlets lost to England and North Korea before beating Mexico 2-1, finishing third in their group. They reached Morocco after a 5-1 aggregate win over South Africa in qualifying, which shows they are competitive within Africa.

The gap appears when they meet nations with long-established youth systems. The USA and China both have structured school, club and academy pathways that produce players with years of competitive matches behind them. Most Kenyan girls at this age have far fewer organised games each season.

For Kenya, the lessons point to more regular youth leagues for girls, more school competitions and better links between schools and clubs in the FKF Women Premier League. A strong showing against Samoa will not change that picture, but it would give this young group something to build on before many of them move up towards the U-20 team and, eventually, the Harambee Starlets.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the score between the Junior Starlets and the USA?

The USA beat Kenya 6-1 on Thursday, 22 October 2026. The Americans led 4-0 at half-time, Maddie DiMaria scored four goals and Lindey Atieno scored Kenya's late consolation.

Are the Junior Starlets out of the U-17 Women's World Cup?

They cannot finish in the top two of Group E, so their only hope is to beat Samoa and qualify as one of the best third-placed teams. Given their goal difference, that is very unlikely.

When do the Junior Starlets play next?

Kenya play their final Group E game against Samoa on Sunday, 25 October 2026, in Morocco.

Who coaches the Junior Starlets?

Mildred Cheche is the head coach of Kenya's U-17 women's team, the Junior Starlets.

The 6-1 loss to the USA was a hard lesson for a young Kenyan side up against one of the strongest teams in the tournament. Sunday's game against Samoa is now about a first win, pride and experience for a group that could form the core of Kenya's women's teams in the years ahead. Scorer254 will bring you the result.