Alabama’s Padelski Opens Women’s U-17 FIFA World Cup with United States Wednesday – Alabama Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. –– Alabama soccer freshman Madeline Padelski will make her World Cup debut Wednesday, competing alongside the United States Under-17 team in the Dominican Republic. The United States will kick off against defending FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup champions Spain at 3 p.m. CT.

Padelski is one of 21 athletes competing for the United States at the international event. Additionally, she is one of just four collegiate players on the U.S. roster, joining Trinity Armstrong (North Carolina), Mary Long (Duke) and Katie Scott (Penn State).

The U-17 World Cup will be held Oct. 16 – Nov. 3 in the Dominican Republic. The United States will compete in Group B with Spain, Columbia and Korea.

Schedule

• Group Stage

  • Oct. 16 – Spain – 3 p.m. – FS2, Universo and Telemundo digital
  • Oct. 19 – Colombia – 6 p.m. – FS2, Universo and Telemundo digital
  • Oct. 22 – Korea – 3 p.m. – FS2 and Telemundo digital

• Oct. 26/27 – Quarterfinals – TBD
• Oct. 30/31 – Semifinals – TBD
• Nov. 3 – Third-Place Game/Final – TBD

*All times Central Time

Tournament Format

• Sixteen teams will compete in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, hosted by the Dominican Republic
• The United States will compete in Group B against Spain, South Korea and Colombia
• Group A features host Dominican Republic, Ecuador, New Zealand and Nigeria, while Group C features North Korea, Mexico, Kenya and England
• Japan, Poland, Brazil and Zambia will face off in Group D
• The top two finishers from each group will advance to the quarterfinals on Saturday, Oct. 26, and Sunday Oct. 27
• All three of the U.S.’s group stage games will be broadcast on Fox Sports 2

Padelski’s Resume

• In her rookie season, she scored two goals for Alabama, netting shots against Florida Atlantic (8/29) and Louisiana Tech (9/13)
• Ranks fifth on the team in points, with six, after scoring two goals and tallying two assists
• Assisted the game-winning goal against both Chattanooga (8/25) and Southern Miss (9/1)
• Has started 11 of 13 games with the Tide
• Invited to eight national team camps, earning an invite to the U.S. Youth National Team U-16 Domestic Training Camp three times and to the U-17 training camp five times
• U-16 Mondial Montague winner
• Scrimmaged against Japan on two occasions, netting a goal and tallying an assist in the international match
• Named the U-17 Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year 
• Earned Elite Clubs National League All-America honors 
• Three-time Ohio Valley All-Conference first team honoree

-UA-