SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (March 10, 2022) – The U.S. Under-20 Women’s Youth National Team defeated Puerto Rico 7-0 in the semifinals of the Concacaf Women’s U-20 Championship to earn a berth to the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. Forward Simone Jackson tallied a second-half hat trick and team captain Michelle Cooper added two tallies in the first half as the young Americans cruised to secure their ticket to the World Cup, set for this August in Costa Rica.

The USA has now qualified for all 10 FIFA Women’s World Cups held at this age level (plus the 2020 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, which was cancelled due to the global COVID-19 pandemic). The first two World Cups were staged as U-19 events in 2002 and 2004, and the USA has now qualified for the U-20 WWC in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2022.

With the win today, the USA advances to the championship game and will face the winner of the other semifinal — Canada vs. Mexico — on Saturday, March 12 at Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez at 3:40 p.m. ET. The U.S. is aiming to win its record seventh Concacaf title at this level.

The USA becomes the first nation to qualify by its on-field play for the 2022 U-20 Women’s World Cup. While Costa Rica earned an automatic berth as host, the Asian, European and Oceanic confederations all canceled their qualification tournaments due to the global pandemic and nominated participants based on the results of their respective 2019 U-19 championships. Africa and South America will conclude their World Cup qualifying competitions later this month.

Puerto Rico initially did well to hold off the U.S. attack, denying dangerous chances for nearly 20 minutes until midfielder Talia DellaPeruta opened the scoring with a 25-yard scorcher in the 19th minute. It took the USA just three minutes to double its lead as midfielder Olivia Moultrie shook off two defenders with some fancy footwork deep inside the penalty box and fired from five yards…