Mercedes Diz scores twice and hands Argentina their first-ever U-17 World Cup win: 2-0 over New Zealand

Argentina's U-17 side have their first-ever World Cup victory. On Tuesday they beat New Zealand 2-0 at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, in the second round of Group A at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Morocco 2026, and both goals came from Mercedes Diz, the same player who on Saturday had scored Argentina's first goal in the history of the tournament.

A brace for the history books

Argentina opened the scoring in the 42nd minute, just before the break, with Diz's first goal. In the second half, in the 69th minute, the forward popped up again to make it 2-0 and settle the match. Four minutes later, with the job done, she left the pitch: Josefina Galarza came on in her place.

Christian Meloni's team arrived at this match needing points. On their debut on Saturday they had gone ahead against Germany through Diz's goal, but ended up losing 2-1 after being reduced to ten players following Oriana Bralo's red card. This time the result did not slip away, against an opponent that had just lost 4-0 to hosts Morocco.

The match

Meloni lined up with Bianca Virga in goal; Julia Vinhas, Aitana Díaz, Agustina Maldonado (captain), Renata Barletta, Macarena Torre, Lola Hernández, Julieta Aguilar, Brunella Pilati, Violeta Álvarez and Mercedes Diz. In the second half, Oriana Gómez replaced Aguilar (64') and, in the 73rd minute, Lola Conde came on for Álvarez, Agustina Leguizamón for Maldonado and Galarza for Diz.

New Zealand went to the bench in the 58th minute (Bree Toatelegese and Emmie Butler), the 72nd (Lania Fili and Louisa Egley-Turner) and the 85th (Madeleine Dwyer), but could not pull one back. The referee was Natalie Simon of the United States.

How Group A stands

With the win, Argentina have 3 points from two matches, with three goals scored and two conceded. Germany and Morocco also have 3, but with a game in hand: they face each other on Tuesday in the other match of the round. New Zealand have no points and no goals in two outings.

• Germany: 3 points (1 match)
• Morocco: 3 points (1 match)
• Argentina: 3 points (2 matches)
• New Zealand: 0 points (2 matches)

The World Cup features 24 teams in six groups of four. The top two in each group and the four best third-placed teams advance to the round of 16, so Argentina go into the final round with a real chance of progressing.

Next up: Morocco on Friday

Argentina close the group stage on Friday 23 October at 14:00 (Argentina time) against Morocco, also at the Mohammed VI Complex. The hosts thrashed New Zealand 4-0 in the opening round, the biggest win by a host nation in the tournament's history according to FIFA. Argentina's matches are broadcast on TV Pública and DSports.

This is Argentina's first appearance at a FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. In three days, Meloni's team have gone from a narrow defeat on debut to a win that leaves qualification in their own hands. And with a goalscorer who, with three goals in two games, is already the face of this team.

Sources: FIFA (match centre and official preview), AFA, TV Pública, Infobae, El Femenino.