One Quick Glance at the U-17 World Cup
Some notes on the upcoming tournament
Last month we followed the U-20 Women’s World Cup, where North Korea eventually emerged as winners after an exciting tournament that saw more than a few stars prevailing. We’re not done however, as the U-17 Women’s World Cup kicks off tonight, Wednesday 16 October. The tournament is taking place in the Dominican Republic, meaning another round of late night games for European viewers. Early group stage games start at 22:00 though so it is feasible to catch a game or two. They are all accessible on FIFA+, the football organisation’s own streaming service.
There are four groups with four teams in each. Following the group stages, the first and second placed teams go into the knockout stages, wrapping up with the final on 3 November.
Previous players who have shone in this tournament are the likes of Yui Hasegawa, Vicky Lopez, Fuka Nagano, Deyna Castellanos, Claudia Pina, and Griedge Mbock Bathy, who became the first and only defender to win the Golden Ball.
U20-champions North Korea eyeing that third title
They are bringing in help to do so by calling up Choe Il-Son, who won the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball at the recent U20 Women’s World Cup as North Korea clinched their third title. They’re now looking to repeat the feat on the U17-side.
They are third in the overall point table for the tournament on 60 points. Overshadowed only by Spain (69 points) and Japan (81 points). Impressively, Japan is one of only four teams to have played in all seven previous editions of the tournament, the others being Canada, Germany and New Zealand. Japan has scored 117 goals across those seven tournaments, conceding only 24 goals. Germany has scored the second-most amount on 84 goals and conceded 36.
Current champions Spain have a mountain to climb
Their U20-counter parts did not manage to repeat the feat and it remains to be seen whether this young group of players can do it. Spain come from a very convincing European qualifying campaign, scoring 49 goals in 11 games, conceding once in five games in the final tournament.
They have the toughest group on paper, featuring the US, South Korea and Colombia, and they’re going up against the Americans in the first game, much like in the U-20 WWC - with that game finishing 1-0 to the Spaniards. This is the only title that the US has yet to clinch, and they will be throwing everything they have at this.
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Kenya and Poland are all playing in the tournament for the first time. Last editions final was played between Spain and Colombia, Spain coming out 1-0 victors. The third place game was between Nigeria-Germany, where the Falconettes got the bronze after winning 3-2 on penalties.
A host of players already playing professionally
A lot of these players are already making a name for themselves in their respective club teams.
In the US team, a lot of their players are plying their trade in the National Women’s Soccer League. Melanie Barcenas, who recently scored her first goal for San Diego Wave, is a key player for the American side. Attacking midfielder and club colleague Kimmi Ascanio (San Diego Wave) is another name to watch. Ainsley McCammon also plays professionally for Seattle Reign FC. The team is missing forward Alex Pfeiffer (Kansas City Current) who tore her ACL in the summer, rendering her unable to conclude her rookie season in the NWSL as well as competing at the U-17 WWC.
17-year-old South Korean-American sensation Casey Phair signed with Angel City in the summer. She already has senior football , as she made her senior debut in the South Korean team at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
The English side is quite exciting. They did well at the U-17 Euros, although they could not topple Spain in the final. 14-year-old Jane Oboavwodou, the Manchester City academy player who has been called up for the young lionesses, has a bright future. She’s one to watch, alongside the likes of Chelsea’s Lola Brown with that frighteningly rapid pace down the wing and deadly crosses. Brown usually puts them in to find the likes of Isabella Fisher, who has a strong presence up front and is sharp in her finishing.
The Spanish side is ridiculously talented as well and has quality across the field. Goalscoring pair (and national team camp roommates) Alba Cerrato and Celia Segura, are so creative and hungry for goals. Pau Comendador is the captain of the side, covering large areas of the pitch and supplying those progressive passes and crosses. Amaya Garcia anchors the backline and sets a standard of relentless defending.