FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2026: everything you need to know
The FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup kicks off in Morocco on 17 October. The future stars of women’s football will have one of their first opportunities to make their names on the world stage and experience what it is like to compete against the very best at international level. Queenballers.com has prepared a guide to make sure you don’t miss a thing.
Host country: Morocco
Just like in 2025, Morocco will host the tournament again this year, and will continue to do so until at least 2029. The North African country, which is relatively easy to reach for European teams as well, is the first African nation to host the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup.
And why five times in a row? FIFA made this decision in 2024, a pivotal year for the tournament. The competition was expanded from 16 to 24 teams, while it was also decided that it would be held annually instead of every two years. To reduce financial costs and simplify logistics, FIFA decided to award the tournament to a single country for five years. That country is Morocco.
What happened last year?
North Korea are defending the title they won in 2025 and are also historically the most successful team in the competition, with four titles in total. You might be surprised to see one of the world’s most restrictive dictatorships dominating women’s youth football. Why is that?
In a nutshell, it comes down to a sophisticated system that players enter from as young as 12. But it is not foolproof. At the recent FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Poland, North Korea did not concede a single goal from open play throughout the tournament, yet failed to defend their title. After a penalty shootout, Spain returned to the throne.
And we may well see a similar battle in Morocco. Spain is thriving across every age category. The senior women’s team will travel to Brazil next year as defending world champions, having secured direct qualification in June. The U19s won the European Championship this year, while the U20s recently won the World Cup. The U17 team last lifted the trophy in 2022 and, in 2024, lost the final to North Korea on penalties. Just like at the U20 tournament, Spain’s young players will be looking to reclaim their crown.
Why should you pay attention to the tournament?
Youth tournaments rarely attract the attention of the wider public, and the same is true in men’s football. The players are not yet big names, fans are less familiar with them, and they are still at an age when they may eventually switch national teams or leave professional football altogether and pursue a different path. Unfortunately, this happens relatively often to players from countries with less developed football structures, where domestic leagues are not professional.
Women’s football, however, is growing rapidly, and not only in countries such as England and Spain. The expansion of the tournament from 16 to 24 teams is one example of that growth. And while these players might not be well known yet, every major star had to start building their career somewhere.
Spanish stars Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmatí, both multiple Ballon d’Or winners, recorded some of their first major international successes at U17 level. Their successors may already be on their way to Morocco. And witnessing the beginning of a great career can be a pretty good place to start.
Which players should you watch?
Nienke Holland
A New Zealand international Nienke Holland who also holds Dutch citizenship. She was born and raised in the Netherlands, while her mother is from New Zealand. She also plays her club football in the Dutch Eredivisie Vrouwen, specifically for AZ Alkmaar. But she is no newcomer to the U17 World Cup. At just 15, she featured at the previous edition in 2025, where she was the youngest player in the squad. She particularly caught the eye by saving a penalty against Japan.
Selma Igesund Saga
A Norwegian defender who has already taken her first major step beyond domestic football. Selma Igesund Saga started out at Store Bergan Fotball before moving to Sandefjord, where she was already playing for the women’s first team at the age of 15. In February 2026, she moved to Italy, signing a contract with FC Como Women until 2028. Despite still being among the youngest players in professional football, she heads into the tournament with her first experience of playing abroad in one of Europe’s strongest leagues already behind her.
You can vote for Selma in LaPrincesa Awards.
Willa Pearson
Australia, nicknamed the Matildas, are one of the major forces in women’s football. If you want to learn more about them, we recommend the documentary Matildas: The World at Our Feet. And Willa Pearson, who has been included in the squad, is one example of why the future of the national team appears to be in good hands.
She is only 15, but she has already broken a record previously held by current Matildas captain and one of Australia’s most successful footballers, Sam Kerr. At 15 years and 51 days old, Pearson became the youngest goalscorer in the Australian A-League. And she combines football with cricket at the same time.
You can vote for Willa in LaPrincesa Awards.
Cassie Travers
American women’s football is one of the strongest in the world. After all, the United States are among the most successful teams in the history of the senior Women’s World Cup. Significant investment goes into clubs in the US, and youth football is no exception. Cassie Travers is part of the U18 team at reigning NWSL champions NY Gotham.
The World Cup is not entirely unfamiliar territory for the Travers family, either. Cassie is the younger sister of Jocelyn Travers, a current Duke University player who represented the United States at the U-17 World Cup in 2024, winning bronze with the team. Two years later, her younger sister now has the chance to write her own chapter at the same tournament.