New Zealand will face hosts Dominican Republic, Ecuador and Nigeria in their group at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The Dominican Republic and Ecuador will be making their first appearances at a U-17 Women’s World Cup, while Nigeria has been to six previous tournaments.
Nigeria’s best placing was a third at the 2022 tournament.
New Zealand are the most experienced nation at this level, with the team making their eighth appearance this year, and having a best placing of third, in Uruguay in 2018.
Main photo: New Zealand were drawn in Group A by Canada-born Mexican international player Tatiana Flores, who represented El Tri at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2022.
Sixteen qualifying nations will compete at the tournament scheduled to be staged in the Dominican Republic from October 16-November 3, 2024.
A match schedule is available here and fixtures, venues and kick-off times will soon be aligned with the groups drawn.
READ MORE: Venues, schedule and an emblem revealed for FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup >>>>
Draw for FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup
Group A
Dominican Republic
Coach: Betzaida Ubri
Qualification: Host nation
Participations: None
Best finish: NA
Ecuador
Coach: Eduardo Moscoso
Qualification: Finished third at the South American U-17 Women’s Championship
Participations: None
Best finish: NA
New Zealand
Coach: Alana Gunn
Qualification: Won the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship
Participations: Seven
Best finish: Third place (2018)
Nigeria
Coach: Bankole Olowookere
Qualification: Beat Liberia in their CAF play-off
Participations: Six
Best finish: Third place (2022)
Group B
Spain
Coach: Kenio Gonzalo
Qualification: Won the UEFA U-17 Women’s Championship
Participations: Five
Best finish: Champions (2018, 2022)
United States
Coach: Katie Schoepfer
Qualification: Won the Concacaf Women’s U-17 Championship
Participations: Five
Best finish: Runners-up (2008)
Korea Republic
Coach: Eunjung Kim
Qualification: Finished third at the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup
Participations: Three
Best finish: Champions (2010)
Colombia
Coach: Carlos Paniagua
Qualification: Finished second at the South American U-17 Women’s Championship
Participations: Five
Best finish: Runners-up (2022)
Group C
Korea DPR
Coach: Sung-Gwon Song
Qualification: Won the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup
Participations: Six
Best finish: Champions (2008, 2016)
Mexico
Coach: : Jimena Rojas
Qualification: Finished runners-up at the Concacaf Women’s U-17 Championship
Participations: Six
Best finish: Runners-up (2018)
Kenya
Coach: Mildred Cheche
Qualification: Beat Burundi in their CAF play-off
Participation: None
Best finish: NA
England
Coach: Natalie Henderson
Qualification: Finished runners-up at the UEFA U-17 Women’s Championship
Participations: Two
Best finish: Fourth (2008)
Group D
Japan
Coach: Sadayoshi Sirai
Qualification: Finished runners-up at the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup
Participations: Seven
Best finish: Champions (2014)
Poland
Coach: Marcin Kasprowicz
Qualification: Finished third at the UEFA U-17 Women’s Championship
Participations: None
Best finish: NA
Brazil
Coach: Simone Jatoba
Qualification: Won the South American U-17 Women’s Championship
Participations: Six
Best finish: Quarter-finals (2010, 2012, 2022)
Zambia
Coach: Carol Kanyemba
Qualification: Beat Morocco in their CAF play-off
Participations: One
Best finish: Group stage (2014)
Fixtures
Game to be played on Thursday October 17, 2024 (NZT)
New Zealand v Nigeria
Cibao University Stadium, Santiago de los Caballeros, kick-off time TBC
Game to be played on Sunday October 20, 2024 (NZT)
Dominican Republic v New Zealand
Cibao University Stadium, Santiago de los Caballeros, kick-off time TBC
Game to be played on Wednesday October 23, 2024 (NZT)
Ecuador v New Zealand
Cibao University Stadium, Santiago de los Caballeros, kick-off time TBC
Changes planned for future U-17 World Cups
The U-17 tournament will become an annual event for 24 nations in 2025 and will be held in Morocco from 2025-29.
Oceania will have two qualifying teams. Other slot allocations will be AFC (4), CAF(5), Concacaf (4), CONMEBOL(4), UEFA (5).
READ MORE: Key decisions made as FIFA releases women’s international calendar >>>>
READ MORE: New Zealand’s pathway to future FIFA U-17 World Cups gets easier >>>>
Main photo credit: FIFA.
Previous winners
2008: DPR Korea
2010: Korea Republic
2012: France
2014: Japan
2016: DPR Korea
2018: Spain
2022: Spain
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