Puerto Rico, Honduras, Panama, and El Salvador Advance to 2025 CONCACAF Women's U-17 Final Round

Four teams from the Caribbean and Central America have punched their tickets to the 2025 CONCACAF Women's U-17 Qualifiers Final Round — and their journeys were anything but easy. Puerto Rico, Honduras, Panama, and El Salvador all won their Round One groups in dramatic fashion, turning underdog stories into historic breakthroughs. For Puerto Rico, a nation that has rarely punched above its weight in youth international soccer, this isn’t just progress — it’s a seismic shift.

The Road to the Final Round

In Group A, Puerto Rico sealed top spot with a 2-1 win over Bermuda at Estadio Centroamericano in Mayagüez. The breakthrough came from 16-year-old Gabriella Garnett, whose left-footed strike in the 33rd minute opened the scoring. It was her first international goal — and it carried the weight of a program’s ambition. The win completed a perfect three-match run for the islanders, who had never before advanced past the first stage of these qualifiers.

Meanwhile, in Couva, Trinidad and Tobago, Honduras edged out hosts Trinidad and Tobago 1-0. The lone goal came from Paula Ramirez in the 76th minute, a clinical finish that silenced a home crowd hoping for a different outcome. For Honduras, this marks their third consecutive appearance in the Final Round — a sign their youth development pipeline is finally delivering results.

Panama didn’t just win — they overwhelmed. In Group C, Panama crushed their opponents 5-0, with Yasselis Magallon opening the scoring in the 8th minute, followed by a brace from Mow and a strike from Alison Onodera. The speed, precision, and confidence on display suggested a team that’s no longer content to be a footnote in CONCACAF’s hierarchy. They didn’t just qualify — they announced themselves.

And then there was El Salvador. Their 7-0 demolition of Guatemala at Estadio Nacional in Managua was the most lopsided result of the entire Round One. Maya Buerger and Angelina Carrillo each scored twice, with Carrillo’s second goal coming just before halftime to make it 4-0. The final goal came in the 89th minute — a statement that El Salvador wasn’t just winning, they were erasing any doubt about their place among the region’s elite.

The Final Round Draw: Who’s Playing Whom

The 12-team Final Round features four automatic qualifiers — Canada, Haiti, Mexico, and the United States — alongside the six group winners and two best second-place finishers: Trinidad & Tobago and Bermuda. The draw split them into three groups:

• Group A (Mexico-hosted): Mexico, Haiti, Costa Rica, Bermuda
• Group B (Panama-hosted): Canada, Puerto Rico, Panama, Nicaragua
• Group C (Trinidad & Tobago-hosted): United States, El Salvador, Honduras, Trinidad & Tobago

The United States will open their campaign on March 31, 2025, at Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, facing Trinidad & Tobago at 7:00 p.m. ET. Then come Honduras on April 2 (4:00 p.m. ET) and El Salvador on April 5 (7:00 p.m. ET). For the Americans, these are not tune-ups — they’re tests. El Salvador and Honduras, in particular, have improved dramatically since their last meeting in these qualifiers.

Why This Matters Beyond the Scoreline

This isn’t just about who qualifies for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. It’s about visibility. For decades, CONCACAF’s youth women’s soccer scene was dominated by the U.S. and Canada, with Mexico occasionally breaking through. But now? The landscape is shifting.

Puerto Rico’s advancement is especially significant. Their program has struggled with funding, infrastructure, and player retention. To go from barely fielding a team five years ago to topping a group in this cycle? That’s a triumph of grassroots effort. Coaches on the island say they’ve seen a 40% increase in girls’ participation since 2021 — and now, they have role models.

Panama and El Salvador’s performances also reflect long-term investments. Both nations have partnered with local academies and adopted Spanish-language coaching curricula tailored to young athletes. The result? Players who aren’t just technically skilled — they’re tactically intelligent.

What’s Next? The Path to the World Cup

The top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage. The top three teams overall will qualify for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup — meaning at least two of these emerging nations could be on the global stage for the first time. The U.S. is still the favorite, but the margin of superiority is shrinking. In 2022, the U.S. won their group by an average of 6 goals per match. In 2025? They’ll need to fight for every point.

The final matches will be played between March 31 and April 6, 2025. All Group C games — including those featuring the U.S., Honduras, El Salvador, and Trinidad & Tobago — will be held at Ato Boldon Stadium. The other two groups will play at venues in Panama and Mexico, though exact stadiums remain unannounced.

Behind the Scenes: The Quiet Builders

Behind every goal, there’s a coach working nights, a parent driving three hours to training, a local business donating cleats. In El Salvador, the federation partnered with a women’s football NGO to fund travel for rural players. In Puerto Rico, a retired teacher started a scholarship fund for girls who wanted to play. These aren’t splashy headlines — but they’re the real story.

The CONCACAF — headquartered in Miami, Florida — has long been criticized for neglecting women’s youth programs. But this cycle? It’s hard to ignore the progress. The fact that four teams from outside the traditional powerhouses made it here suggests the system is finally working — at least a little.