When an early exit doesn't tell the whole story: Meet Mexico's most promising U20 players

Mexico’s Women's U20 World Cup campaign in Poland did not go according to plan. El Tri surrendered a two goal lead in their opening match against Benin and had to settle for a 2:2 draw before suffering a 1:2 defeat to hosts Poland. With play-offs on the line in their final group game, Mexico then lost 2:3 to Argentina and finished the tournament with just one point. 

The early exit, however, does not tell the whole story about the talent within this Mexican squad. Several players have already established themselves in Liga MX Femenil, while some were key figures in Mexico’s historic campaign at the 2025 U17 World Cup. The following selection therefore looks beyond what happened in Poland and takes into account long term development, achievements at club and international level, and future potential. Here are four Mexican talents worth keeping an eye on in the years to come.

Berenice Ibarra

Despite being only 17, Ibarra already has considerably more experience than most players of her age. The Pachuca defender has gradually established herself in the club’s first team and was selected in the Liga MX Femenil Best XI for the Clausura 2026. Her international career is equally impressive. Poland is already her third youth World Cup after representing Mexico at the U17 tournaments in the Dominican Republic in 2024 and Morocco in 2025. She captained Mexico at the latter and helped her country claim a third place, before making the step up to the U20 team.

Ibarra stands out for her physical presence on the flank, consistency in one on one defending and ability to contribute to the attack with dangerous crosses. Her growing importance at Pachuca, combined with the experience she has already accumulated across the three youth World Cups, makes her one of the most interesting prospects of Mexico’s new generation. Still at the very beginning of her senior career, she has already shown that she can compete regularly at the highest level of Mexican football, and the coming years will show just how far she can go.  

Montserrat Saldívar

Despite her young age, Saldívar already has extensive experience at the highest level of Mexican football. The offensive talent joined América in the Apertura 2021 and initially divided her time between the first team and the club’s youth sides before establishing herself permanently in the senior squad during the Clausura 2024. Since then, she has become an increasingly important figure for Las Águilas and has built an impressive collection of silverware, including Liga MX Femenil titles in the Clausura 2023 and 2026. Her performances have also earned her international recognition, with the IFFHS including her among the world’s leading U20 players in 2025. 

Saldívar’s record at international level is just as impressive. She was part of the Mexico side that won the 2023 Concacaf Women’s U20 Championship, but it was the 2025 edition that truly demonstrated her potential. The América forward scored eight goals, including two in the final against Canada, to finish as the tournament’s top scorer, while her overall contribution also earned her the Best Player award and a place in the competition’s Best XI. She arrived in Poland as one of the most accomplished players in the Mexican squad and, with significant senior experience already behind her, appears well positioned to become an important figure for both América and Mexico in the years to come.

Alice Soto

Soto has been considered one of Mexico’s biggest talents since an exceptionally young age. She made her Liga MX Femenil debut for Pachuca in February 2020 at just 13 and gradually developed into an important first team player before joining Rayadas ahead of the Clausura 2025. Despite being only 20, she is already competing at her fourth youth World Cup and has also made the step up to Mexico’s senior national team, marking her debut against Thailand in 2024 with two goals. Her individual achievements include being named the best young player in Liga MX Femenil in 2023 and winning the Best Player award at the 2023 Concacaf Women’s U20 Championship.

Soto’s main strengths lie in her excellent vision and accurate passing, which allow her to play an important role in creating attacking moves. Her extensive experience in senior football, combined with four youth World Cups and an increasingly important role with the senior national team, makes her one of the most experienced players of Mexico’s current U20 generation. 

Valentina Murrieta

You may be wondering why a player who has not played a single minute at this World Cup is included among Mexico’s most interesting talents. The answer lies in what Murrieta achieved long before arriving in Poland. The América goalkeeper was one of the standout players at the 2025 U17 World Cup and was awarded the Golden Glove as the tournament’s best goalkeeper, with her defining moments coming in penalty shootouts. She saved two penalties in regulation against Italy in the quarter-finals before stopping another in the shootout, and then denied two more spot kicks against Brazil in the third-place match. 

Murrieta’s greatest weapon, is (as it is likely obvious) her ability to save penalties, something she has enjoyed since she first started playing in goal. She also stands out for her reflexes, positioning and confidence between the posts, while her ability with the ball at her feet allows her to contribute to the team’s build up play. Regardless of her lack of playing time in Poland, Murrieta remains one of the most intriguing goalkeeping prospects of Mexico’s new generation.