Morocco’s Women’s Under-17 World Cup fixtures, TV coverage and group details

The 2026 Women’s Under-17 World Cup begins in Morocco on Saturday, 17 October, with the tournament running until 7 November. Here is everything to know about Morocco’s fixtures, where to watch the matches and how Group A will be decided.

Morocco is hosting the competition for a second consecutive year under an agreement with FIFA to stage five successive editions in the kingdom. The 2026 tournament is the 10th in the competition’s history and features 24 teams, divided into six groups of four.

The expanded annual format made Morocco the first African country to host the tournament after the change to a yearly schedule and a 24-team format, when it staged the 2025 edition.

Most matches will be played in Sale, across the facilities at the Mohammed VI Football Complex. The Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat will host the semi-finals, the third-place play-off and the final.

All Women’s Under-17 World Cup matches will be available to watch free via streaming on FIFA+, through DAZN, in the vast majority of territories. beIN Sports will also show the matches in Morocco.

Morocco’s squad, known as the Lioncelles de l’Atlas, has been drawn in Group A with New Zealand, Germany and Argentina. All three of the hosts’ group matches are scheduled for 18:00 local time (GMT), which is 20:00 in France.

The group includes some well-known names, although the recent records of Morocco’s opponents are mixed. Germany missed the past two editions after finishing fourth in 2022, while Argentina are appearing at the tournament for the first time. New Zealand have been eliminated in the group stage in each of their past three appearances, including a campaign last year in which they failed to earn a point.

The top two teams in each group, along with the four best third-placed sides, will reach the last 16.

The standings will first be determined by points. If teams remain level, the order of criteria is head-to-head points, head-to-head goal difference, head-to-head goals scored, overall goal difference, overall goals scored, fair play and finally a drawing of lots.

Morocco manager Youness Rabie has selected 21 players for the tournament.

Five African nations are taking part, with Morocco joined by Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Zambia after those four countries qualified through the continental competition.

Nigeria are in Group B with North Korea, Poland and Puerto Rico. Ghana will play in Group C alongside Canada, Brazil and Norway. Kenya have been placed in Group E with China, the United States and Samoa, while Zambia are in Group D with Japan, France and Venezuela.

Morocco also progressed beyond the group stage at last year’s tournament, which was held in the country. They lost 3-0 to Brazil and 3-1 to Italy before beating Costa Rica 3-1 to finish third and qualify as one of the best third-placed teams. Their run ended in the last 16 with a 6-1 defeat by North Korea, who went on to win the tournament.