The year before she had been the youngest player at the July 2010 U20 Women's World Cup (also played in Germany), when she played for Mexico women's national under-20 football team at the age of 15 years and nine months. Expected to go out in the first stage, the team reached the quarter finals, with Santiago's performances considered a vital factor in the team's surprising success in getting through the group stage. Earlier in the year, she had been part of the Mexico U17 team that reached the final of the CONCACAF U17 Championships in March, losing 1–0 to Canada.