The Samoa U17 women’s football team has made history as the first Pacific Island side to reach the semi-finals of the prestigious Dallas Cup in the United States.
Led by Head Coach Juan Chang Urrea, the team won their pool and advanced through the quarter-finals before falling to the host club’s academy, FC Dallas, in the top four. Their participation is part of preparations for the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco this October.
“This level of preparation is unheard of in the Pacific Islands,” said Urrea. “We are working together to give our team the best chance to make our country and Oceania proud at the World Cup.”
The team opened with a 7-1 win over DKSC, then stunned Villarreal 2-0 before a 2-2 draw with Dallas Texans confirmed their top finish in Pool A. In the quarter-finals, they beat DKSC ECNL 2-0 to set up a clash with FC Dallas, who ended their run with a 5-0 win.
The standout performer was striker Makea Leonard, who scored five goals across five matches.
The team’s campaign was supported by FIFA Forward funding and OFC backing, with players drawn from Samoa, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. A training camp held in California earlier this year was credited for the squad’s cohesion.
Urrea says both the wins and the semi-final loss were vital learning moments.
“This wasn’t just a tournament – it was a major stepping stone toward our World Cup ambitions,” he said.
The squad will return to the US for a final camp in June, with two international friendlies planned ahead of their departure for Morocco.
