Fresno Pacific University goalkeeper Ayana Kirisimasi is making strides with the American Samoa women's national soccer team, securing two critical 1-0 victories in FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying against Solomon Islands and Samoa. These wins advance the team to the final qualifying round, building on their historic first competitive victories last November. Kirisimasi played the full 90 minutes in both matches, earning accolades for her outstanding performances in goal. The next challenge is a match against New Zealand, which, regardless of the outcome, will not affect their qualification status but will determine their semifinal placement. A potential World Cup berth is increasingly within reach for American Samoa.

By the Numbers
  • American Samoa won 1-0 against both Solomon Islands and Samoa in qualifying matches.
  • Ayana Kirisimasi registered two clean sheets, denying multiple scoring chances.
State of Play
  • American Samoa is on a historic run, having advanced in World Cup qualifiers for the first time in federation history.
  • The team previously celebrated their inaugural competitive wins against Tonga and the Cook Islands, with scores of 3-0 and 4-0.
What's Next

The upcoming match against New Zealand will determine their final placement for the semifinals on April 11-15 in New Zealand. Depending on the match's outcome, they will face either the Group B runner-up or champion in the semifinals.

Bottom Line

American Samoa's remarkable journey in World Cup qualification, along with Kirisimasi's stellar performances, highlights the rising potential of the team, making their pursuit of a World Cup spot increasingly plausible.