China U17 Women coach stresses growth

In the quarterfinals of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, China took the lead but were overtaken by Brazil in the second half, ultimately suffering a narrow 1-2 defeat and missing out on a place in the semifinals. Despite the loss, making it to the last eight marks China’s best-ever performance in the U17 Women’s World Cup.

After the game, China U17 head coach Ma Xiaoxu spoke to the media, affirming her players’ efforts while remaining clear-eyed about the challenges ahead:

“Honestly, the result is a bit regretful, but I think these girls already did very well and I am proud of them. Still, we must face the reality—we do have a gap to bridge, and we have much more to do. Chinese women’s football has a long way to go, and we coaches have even more improvements to make.”

Speaking about the tournament’s impact on the young players, Ma Xiaoxu emphasized the tremendous growth experienced by the team:

“The players are definitely growing, and by a great margin—whether it’s in their ability, mentality, or their courage in facing difficulties. I think this tournament has been immensely meaningful for them.”