Hosts Morocco celebrate a commanding opening victory as the world’s rising stars begin their battle for global glory.
By The Voice of Women Sport | October 17, 2026
The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026 opened on Saturday with an impressive display of emerging talent, as host nation Morocco delivered a memorable 4–0 victory over New Zealand to begin their campaign in convincing fashion.
The tournament, featuring 24 national teams from six continents, marks another significant chapter in the development of women’s football, providing a global stage for some of the sport’s most promising young players.
For Morocco, the opening day carried particular significance. Hosting the competition for the second consecutive year, the North African nation entered the tournament determined to demonstrate its growing ambition in women’s football.
Morocco Deliver a Statement Victory
Playing at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, Morocco’s young Atlas Lionesses overcame a goalless first half before producing a dominant second-half performance against New Zealand.
Sonia Abajiou broke the deadlock shortly before the hour mark, setting the stage for a remarkable attacking display. Morocco extended their advantage through further goals involving Nessma Mouradi and Imane Dhissi before Hiba Youssoufi completed the scoring from the penalty spot.
The 4–0 result gave the hosts an ideal start to their Group A campaign and provided an early indication of their attacking potential.
However, a more demanding challenge awaits when Morocco face Germany on October 20, followed by Argentina on October 23.
Defending Champions Make Their Intentions Clear
Elsewhere on the opening day, defending champions DPR Korea underlined their determination to retain the title with an emphatic 6–0 victory over Puerto Rico.
The result demonstrated the strength of the Asian side, whose disciplined approach, technical ability and clinical finishing have made them one of the most formidable teams in women’s youth football.
Germany also opened their campaign with victory over Argentina, while Poland defeated Nigeria 2–1 in another closely contested encounter.
Opening-Day Results – October 17
- Morocco 4–0 New Zealand
- DPR Korea 6–0 Puerto Rico
- Germany 2–1 Argentina
- Poland 2–1 Nigeria
Africa’s Young Talents Take Centre Stage
The tournament represents another important opportunity for African women’s football, with Morocco, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Zambia competing against leading international opposition.
For these teams, the World Cup is more than a competition. It offers young African footballers valuable exposure, international experience and an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities before a global audience.
Nigeria will seek to recover from their opening defeat against Poland, while Ghana, Kenya and Zambia prepare for their respective group-stage challenges.
The performances of these nations will also provide an indication of the progress being made in youth development across the continent.
Canada Among the Teams Seeking Global Success
Canada enter the competition in Group C alongside Brazil, Norway and Ghana.
The Canadian side will be aiming to build on its recent international youth performances, with the tournament offering another opportunity to strengthen the country’s next generation of women’s football talent.
The competition is particularly important for players seeking to progress towards senior international football and professional careers.
A Global Platform for the Future of Women’s Football
With 24 teams competing across six groups, the tournament will progress from the group stage to the Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
The top two teams from each group, together with the four best third-placed sides, will advance to the knockout stage.
The final is scheduled for November 7 at Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium.
Beyond the results, Morocco 2026 represents a powerful reminder of the importance of investing in girls’ football, strengthening youth development programmes and creating opportunities for young women to compete at the highest level.
As the tournament unfolds, the spotlight will fall not only on the teams competing for the trophy but also on the individual players who could become the next generation of international football stars.
The Voice of Women Sport will continue following the tournament, with particular attention to African and Canadian teams, emerging players and the development of women’s football worldwide.
