Jamaica’s Under-17 Reggae Girlz opened the final round of the Concacaf Women’s U-17 Qualifiers in disastrous fashion on Tuesday, collapsing to a punishing 0-9 defeat against a rampant Mexico in their Group C opener at the Costa Rican Football Federation Field.
What began as a stern early test quickly spiraled into a one-sided demolition, as Mexico seized complete control within minutes and never loosened its grip. By the end, the young Reggae Girlz had been overrun by a wave of sharp passing, ruthless finishing, and relentless attacking pressure that produced one of the most lopsided results of the tournament’s opening round.
Reyes and Urbano tear the game apart
At the heart of Mexico’s emphatic victory were Citlalli Reyes and Mía Urbano, who each delivered hat-tricks in a devastating display of attacking efficiency.
Mexico needed only three minutes to strike. Emily Delgado slipped a ball into the box for Reyes, who finished calmly to put Jamaica under immediate pressure. Four minutes later, the lead doubled when Mexico sliced through the Jamaican defense with another flowing move, allowing Urbano to finish into an empty net.
The pattern was already set: Jamaica struggling to contain the movement, Mexico exploiting every opening.
Urbano struck again in the 17th minute, completing another polished team move with a first-time finish to make it 3-0 before the match had settled into its rhythm. Jamaica was left chasing shadows, unable to halt the tempo or recover defensive shape.
Just before halftime, Mexico delivered another blow. In the 40th minute, Urbano turned provider and Reyes responded with a fierce strike from distance to send her team into the break with a 4-0 advantage.
No let-up after halftime
Any hope of a reset disappeared almost immediately after the restart.
Five minutes into the second half, Reyes completed her hat-trick, finishing from close range after another precise Mexican delivery into the area. Urbano matched her soon after, producing a superb solo effort in the 64th minute as she glided past defenders and drove a low shot home to complete her own three-goal haul.
Even then, Mexico was not done.
Ixchel Uscanga added what was arguably the goal of the match in the 70th minute, beating the Jamaican goalkeeper with a looping long-range effort from roughly 30 yards. Delgado then got on the scoresheet in the 87th minute, and Bianka Arredondo completed the rout two minutes later with another strike from distance following a corner.
By full time, Mexico had turned an opening fixture into a statement performance.
Historic night for Mexico, painful one for Jamaica
The result carried added historical weight.
For Mexico, it was the country’s first-ever 9-0 victory at this level and also its fourth clean sheet in five all-time meetings with Jamaica. For the Reggae Girlz, the defeat marked the heaviest loss in team history, surpassing the 8-1 defeat suffered against the United States in 2016.
The scoreline reflected the gulf on the night, but also the degree to which Jamaica unraveled once Mexico established its early dominance.
Daley points to communication and trust issues
After the match, defender Kalila Daley offered a candid assessment of what went wrong, pointing to breakdowns within the team rather than any single tactical issue.
“I think our communication is off, and I think we need to be more direct with that and the trust with the players. We didn’t trust each other, so I think we need to work on that,” Daley said.
Her remarks captured the broader problem that haunted Jamaica throughout the contest: a side unable to stay connected under pressure and increasingly vulnerable once the game began slipping away.
Group C picture sharpens quickly
In the other Group C match, Costa Rica defeated Panama 3-1 to begin its campaign with three points. That leaves Mexico and Costa Rica level at the top of the standings, with Mexico ahead on goal difference. Panama and Jamaica remain without a point after the opening round.
Only the group winner is guaranteed to advance to the 2026 FIFA Women’s U-17 World Cup, along with the best second-place finisher across the final round groups. That leaves Jamaica with little room for error and a great deal to repair.
The opening defeat was not merely heavy; it was destabilizing. Mexico exposed Jamaica’s defensive frailties, punished every lapse, and turned a competitive qualifier into a night of damage on multiple fronts.
For the young Reggae Girlz, the challenge now is as much mental as tactical. The tournament is still alive, but only if they can regroup quickly, restore belief, and produce a drastically improved performance in their next outing.
