Like many footballers, Lauren Schmidt had dreams of one day playing in a World Cup. That dream comes through on Sunday when she leads Trinidad and Tobago onto the field against Chile in their opening Group A match of the 2nd FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup.

After the clash with Chile, T&T face African powerhouses Nigeria on September 8, and reigning champions Korea DPR (North Korea) on September 12.

The second edition of the FIFA Under 17 Women's World Cup begins on Sunday with double-headers at both the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain and the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Tobago. At the Yorke Stadium, European powerhouses Germany face Mexico at 4 p.m., and at seven, South Africa meet South Korea. The tournament opens at the Hasely Crawford Stadium at three p.m. with a tough clash between Nigeria and defending champions Korea DPR. At six, Schmidt leads out the T&T team in the country's first-ever match at a Women's World Cup.

Schmidt's path to the captaincy of the T&T team is unusual in that she only became one of the Soca Princesses a few months ago. And following an unfortunate ACL injury, which ruled long-time captain Camille Borneo out of the tournament last month, Schmidt's leadership skills saw T&T's Norwegian head coach Even Pellerud installing her as the new captain of his final 21-member squad. It's a dream come through for the 17-year-old Californian.

Family ties are largely responsible for Schmidt being on the T&T team. Her mother, Leslie was born in Maraval, Trinidad, where she lived for 17 years before leaving to study in Canada and the United States. While abroad, Leslie met Richard Schmidt. And after qualifying as physicians, the couple settled in Morgan Hill, California. But for Lauren, T&T is no strange place. Every year her family vacation in Maraval, where most of her mother's family still live.

"I'm a half Trini living in California. I've lived in California all my life," she said. "My mom was born in Trinidad and lived there until she was 17. She continued her schooling in Canada and then came to the U.S. for university and medical school. She met my dad in med school and then they had their four kids in California.

"My uncle (Everard Carter)," Lauren continued, "saw an announcement about the Under-17 Women's World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago. Then he contacted coach Dion La Foucade to get me a try-out. I came down as soon as I could, which is when the team returned from Korea. Then I had a five-day tryout in May, and coach Pellerud liked my style of play and wanted me back for summer."

Pellerud invited Schmidt to remain with the team, which gathered in Brazil in July for a ten-day training camp, where they held South American champions Brazil 1-1 in the first match, before losing 6-0 in the second.

T&T chose to play Brazil because they won the South American championship, defeating the Soca Princesses' opening opponents, Chile, 7-0, in the final. Schmidt, a five foot, seven inch central defender, described the Brazil experience as amazing and incredible. Installed as captain, the California girl understands the enormity of her team's task in the World Cup, but warns that no one will beat T&T easily.

"Every game is going to be extremely competitive. We're going to be playing against the best in the world day in and day out, so we have to give it our best. There's definitely some pressure on us to do well, but it's more of excitement," Schmidt said. "We can't wait to get out there and play together. The girls on my team get along really well, and we know the Trinidadian fans are going to give us a lot of support. They love soccer."