HERRIMAN, Utah / QATAR (Tuesday, November 11, 2025) - The Real Salt Lake Academy quartet composed of DF Felix Contreras, MF Luca Moisa, FW Van Parker, and DF Gio Villa advanced to the knockout stage of the 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup following the conclusion of the group games this morning. MF Antonio Riquelme and La Roja bowed out of the competition as Chile failed to advance.
The Stars-and-Stripes put out a dominant nine-point performance to top Group I, a group that featured three nations heading to the knockout stages. Both Moisa and Villa appeared in every group stage match for the United States, Villa notching two starts and a 20-minute shift in today’s group finale, while Moisa notched the start in the 2-1 win over Tajikistan and two second-half substitution appearances.
The United States will now face Morocco in the Round of 32 on Thursday, November 13. Kickoff will be announced at a later time with streaming information available on the tournament's official website.
Group I - United States
11/5 - Burkina Faso: 1-0
11/8 - Tajikistan: 2-1
11/11 - Czechia: 1-0
Group I Standings: W-L-D pts GD
*Advanced to Round of 32
- United States: 3-0-0 9pts* 3
- Burkina Faso: 2-1-0 6pts* 2
- Czechia: 1-2-0 3pts* 3
- Tajikistan: 0-3-0 0pts -8
Group K runner-ups Canada will move on to the Round of 32 after advancing via tiebreaker, as all four nations in Group K finished with four points. Parker notched two starts throughout the group stage and one second-half sub appearance in the 0-0 draw against France. The RSL Academy striker logged 90-minute shifts in Canada’s historic 2-1 win over Uganda to clinch the nation's first-ever win in the U17 World Cup, and another 90 minutes in a battle against RSL Academy U18 teammate Riquleme as La Roja bested the Canucks, 2-1.
Canada will now face Ireland in the Round of 32 on Thursday, November 13. Kickoff will be announced at a later time with streaming information available on the tournament's official website.
Group K - Canada
11/5 - Uganda: 2-1
11/8 - France: 0-0
11/11 - Chile: 1-2
Group K Standings: W-L-D pts GD
*Advanced to Round of 32
- France: 1-1-1 4pts* 1
- Canada: 1-1-1 4pts* 0
- Uganda: 1-1-1 4pts* 0
- Chile: 1-1-1 4pts -1
Contreras played every one of 270 minutes throughout the group stage in Mexico’s push to the Round of 32. Providing stability to El Tri’s back line, Contreras donned the armband in the group finale loss to Switzerland.
Mexico will now face Argentina in the Round of 32 on Thursday, November 13. Kickoff will be announced at a later time with streaming information available on the tournament's official website.
Group F - Mexico
11/4 - Korea Republic: 1-2
11/7 - Ivory Coast: 1-0
11/10 - Switzerland: 1-3
Group F Standings: W-L-D pts GD
*Advanced to Round of 32
- Switzerland: 2-0-1 7pts* 5
- Korea Republic: 2-0-1 7pts* 3
- Mexico: 1-2-0 3pts* -2
- Ivory Coast: 0-3-0 0pts -6
La Roja will be the odd team out amongst nations with Claret-and-Cobalt representation, missing the knockout stages after falling short on goal differential. Riquleme became an important piece to La Roja’s success after only logging eight minutes in Chile’s 2-0 loss to France to open the tournament. Following the defeat, Riquleme notched two consecutive starts, helping La Roja earn four points in its attempted push to the Round of 32.
Group K - Chile
11/5 - France: 0-2
11/8 - Uganda: 1-1
11/11 - Canada: 2-1
Group K Standings: W-L-D pts GD
*Advanced to Round of 32
- France: 1-1-1 4pts* 1
- Canada: 1-1-1 4pts* 0
- Uganda: 1-1-1 4pts* 0
- Chile: 1-1-1 4pts -1
Real Monarchs and Real Salt Lake Academy are the official MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT affiliates of MLS side Real Salt Lake. After a historic 2024-25 season that saw RSL become the first academy to have a squad win both the Generation adidas Cup and MLS NEXT Cup in the same season, the group now looks to build upon a firm foundation. Leading Major League Soccer in all-time homegrown signings, RSL welcomed Omar Marquez, Aiden Hezarkhani, Owen Anderson, and Gio Villa in January of this year, all RSL Academy products as part of its 45 homegrown signings after inking their deals with the Claret-and-Cobalt.
