Rabat – Morocco’s U-17 women’s national football team will begin their FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup campaign against New Zealand today, Saturday, October 17, marking the start of a major international tournament hosted by the Morocco.
The competition, running from October 17 to November 8, brings together emerging talents from across the world, offering Morocco another opportunity to demonstrate its ability to host major international football events.
Led by head coach Younes Rabie, the young Atlas Lionesses will look to take advantage of playing on home soil and secure a positive result in their opening Group A encounter.
The tournament’s matches will take place at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé, with the final scheduled for Moulay El Hassan Stadium.
Morocco will face a challenging group featuring New Zealand, Germany, and Argentina, with each opponent bringing different strengths and levels of international experience.
New Zealand present first challenge
Morocco’s opening opponents, New Zealand, enter the competition with considerable experience at the U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The Oceanian side has participated in several editions of the tournament, with its best performance coming in 2018, when it finished third.
New Zealand secured qualification for the 2026 tournament after winning the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship under head coach Alana Gunn.
The opening match represents an opportunity for the Moroccan side to build confidence and gain valuable points ahead of two demanding fixtures.
Playing in front of home supporters could provide additional motivation, although the young Atlas Lionesses will need to manage the pressure of expectations and maintain their concentration throughout the encounter.
A positive result against New Zealand would strengthen Morocco’s chances of progressing beyond the group stage.
Germany and Argentina await Morocco
Following their opening match, Morocco will face Germany on Tuesday, October 20, in what promises to be another difficult test.
Germany qualified for the tournament after winning the UEFA Women’s U-17 Championship, confirming its position among Europe’s leading youth football teams.
The German side has extensive experience in the competition, including a third-place finish in 2008.
Under coach Sabine Loderer, Germany will aim to build on its continental success and compete for a place in the knockout rounds.
Morocco will then conclude their Group A campaign against Argentina on Friday, October 23.
The South American team qualified after finishing second in the continental qualifying competition under coach Christian Meloni.
Argentina will be looking to make an impact in the tournament, adding another challenge for the Moroccan players.
The final group match could prove decisive for Morocco’s qualification hopes, depending on the results of their opening two encounters.
Morocco’s growing ambitions in women’s football
Hosting the U-17 Women’s World Cup represents another important moment in Morocco’s efforts to develop women’s football and strengthen its presence on the international stage.
The country has made significant progress in recent years, particularly following the senior women’s national team’s historic qualification for the knockout stage of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Morocco’s senior Atlas Lionesses also reached the final of the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, demonstrating the growing competitiveness of women’s football in the country.
At youth level, participation in international tournaments provides Moroccan players with opportunities to gain experience against teams from different footballing backgrounds.
For coach Younes Rabie, the challenge will be to prepare his players to compete against experienced opponents while making the most of the support from Moroccan fans.
The tournament also offers Morocco an opportunity to showcase its football infrastructure and organizational capabilities.
With three challenging matches ahead, the young Atlas Lionesses will aim to turn home advantage into positive results and secure a place in the next round.
Their campaign begins today against New Zealand, with hopes of making a memorable start to the World Cup on Moroccan soil.
