U16 Belize Girls National Team’s Danellie Black -3- against El Salvador’s Grace Burgos -13 – Photo Credit: La Selecta SLV
By Rubén Morales Iglesias: 
The U16 Belize Girls National Team will close out their campaign at the 2025 UNCAF FIFA Forward U16 Girls Tournament on Thursday afternoon against Honduras in the 7th place match at the Estadio Nacional de Fútbol in Managua. Kick‑off is set for 4:00 PM (Belize time).
Belize enter the placement match after a difficult group stage, capped by a 12–0 defeat to El Salvador on Tuesday. Earlier, the team had lost 7–0 to hosts Nicaragua and 2–1 to Guatemala, with Christel Tzul scoring Belize’s only goal of the tournament. In total, Belize conceded 21 goals across three matches, underscoring the steep challenges faced by the young squad.
FFB President Sergio Chuc sought to explain the disparity, noting that Belize’s rivals fielded teams largely composed of US‑based players.
U16 Belize Girls National Team’s Betsy Perez -11- against El Salvador’s Jade Delcollo – 12 – Photo Credit: La Selecta SLV
“The entire Salvador team starting 11 are all USA‑based youths. Nicaragua also had seven starting US‑based players,” Chuc told Breaking Belize News. “We only have one US player, Sofia Ellis. Yesterday our two best defenders could not play because of injury — Rhianna Valentine and Janay Avila.”
Despite the explanation, many Belizean fans remain disappointed. On social media and in community discussions, supporters have voiced frustration that Belize isn’t performing better.
U16 Belize Girls National Team’s Kiana Lewis -9 – and Michelle Garbutt – 14 – against El Salvador’s Kaylen Álvarez -16 – Photo Credit: La Selecta SLV
Meanwhile, the tournament closes with the following placement matches on Thursday:
4:00 PM – Belize vs 
Honduras (7th place match, Estadio Nacional)
4:30 PM – 
Panama vs 
Nicaragua (5th place match, Estadio Miguel “Chocorrón” Buitrago)
7:00 PM – 
Costa Rica vs 
Guatemala (3rd place match, Estadio Nacional)
7:30 PM – 
El Salvador vs 
Puerto Rico (Final, Estadio Miguel “Chocorrón” Buitrago)
For Belize, Thursday’s match against Honduras offers one last opportunity to finish the tournament on a positive note. Regardless of the outcome, the experience has highlighted both the promise of Belize’s young players and the pressing need for stronger development structures to compete with regional rivals.
U16 Belize Girls National Team’s Danellie Black -3- against El Salvador’s Mónica Escobar -9 – Photo Credit: La Selecta SLV
The post U16 Belize Girls National Team to face Honduras for 7th place Thursday appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
📸 U16 Belize Girls National Team’s Danellie Black -3- against El Salvador’s Grace Burgos -13 – Photo Credit: La Selecta SLV By Rubén Morales Iglesias: 🇧🇿 The U16 Belize Girls National Team will close out their campaign at the 2025 UNCAF FIFA Forward U16 Girls Tournament on Thursday afternoon against Honduras in the 7th place
The post U16 Belize Girls National Team to face Honduras for 7th place Thursday appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
