Carolina Reyna is headed to Morocco
NEW YORK, NY — Carolina Reyna has been named to the United States roster for the 2026 U-17 Women’s World Cup, giving the Reyna family another major international moment. The 17-year-old midfielder will join Ciara Crinion’s squad as the U.S. prepares to face Samoa, Kenya and China PR in Group E.
The call-up adds a new chapter to one of American soccer’s most recognizable families. Carolina will now represent the Stars and Stripes on the same youth World Cup stage where her brother Gio once played for the U.S. men’s side.
A first for U.S. soccer’s World Cup pipeline
Carolina and Gio Reyna are the first brother and sister to play for the United States at a U-17 World Cup. That makes Carolina’s selection notable beyond the family name, since it creates a shared milestone that has not existed before in U.S. soccer history.
For Carolina, the moment also carries a sense of symmetry. She watched Gio compete for the U.S. at the 2019 U-17 World Cup in Brazil when she was 10 years old. Now she gets her own chance to step onto the same global stage, this time in Morocco.
Built for this stage
Carolina has been in the U.S. youth setup from the U-15 level through U-17s, and she arrives with a track record that includes the Golden Boot at the 2024 Concacaf Girls’ U-15 Championship. Those experiences have helped shape her into one of the country’s most closely watched young attackers.
She is also already committed to play college soccer at North Carolina in 2027, following a family path that connects her to both the Tar Heels and the senior national team. Her mother, Danielle Reyna, starred at UNC and earned six caps with the U.S. women’s national team.
Carolina embraces the family spotlight
In comments to FIFA, Carolina said representing the United States is an honor and described the tournament as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her and her teammates. She also said it means a great deal to follow the World Cup path blazed by her father and brother.
Carolina added that she is looking forward to the challenge on the field and the chance to experience Morocco with her teammates off it. For a teenager still early in her career, the tournament offers both a test and a showcase.
Gio’s resurgence gives Carolina a live example
Carolina has been able to watch her brother’s career unfold up close, including the ups and downs that have come with playing for the national team. Gio Reyna has worked his way back into the U.S. picture after a difficult stretch and was part of Mauricio Pochettino’s plans at the 2026 World Cup.
He scored in the U.S. win over Paraguay and later started all four fall friendlies, adding two assists as the Americans finished the window with four victories. He has since joined Strasbourg, giving the Reyna family another active link to the top level of the game.
What Carolina’s selection means for the U.S.
The U.S. women’s program will look to use the U-17 World Cup as another proving ground for future senior national team talent. With Emma Hayes now leading the USWNT, performances at youth events are under even more scrutiny from the pathway to the top.
For Carolina, the assignment in Morocco is about more than family history. It is a chance to establish herself on a major international stage and to help the United States chase its first U-17 Women’s World Cup title.
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