Venezuela, Ghana, DPR Korea and Brazil are the first four teams into the quarter-finals of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Morocco 2026. On the opening day of the round of 16, 28 October Morocco time, FIFA reported, Venezuela beat Germany 1-0, ten-player Ghana knocked out Argentina on penalties after a 1-1 draw, two-time defending champions DPR Korea beat hosts Morocco 6-0, and Brazil edged Poland 8-7 in a sudden-death shootout after a 3-3 draw.
Two shootouts, two different heroes
Ghana's match against Argentina turned on a red card. Jessica Appiah put Ghana ahead in the 16th minute from a Cynthia Obinsrewuo assist, but Hajara Adam was sent off for a second booking in the 77th minute, and Mercedes Diz headed Argentina level from a looping free-kick in the 86th minute. Oriana Gomez missed the target with Argentina's second spot-kick, Ghana scored all five of theirs, and Appiah struck the winner.
It was not the first time she had done it: according to FIFA, Appiah also scored the decisive penalty against Senegal that sent Ghana to the tournament. Coach Joe Nana Adarkwa said: "Jessica is a world-class player – she's fantastic." He credited his side's discipline with a player short: "We're a technical team but our players did well because if you are not tactical when it's 10 against 11, you lose the game." Argentina coach Christian Meloni conceded: "Penalties are not just luck, our opponents were more clinical."
Brazil's tie with Poland was, in FIFA's view, one of the games of the tournament. Player of the Match Greise Kelly opened the scoring in the 11th minute, her shot deflecting off Hanna Buchta and going in off the post. Poland then struck twice in three minutes: Nicola Galuszka's long-range drive deflected in over goalkeeper Nathy in the 34th minute, and Galuszka sent Zofia Burzan through to score in the 36th minute. Marcela Bontorim equalised in the 52nd minute and Pepe put Brazil back in front in the 73rd minute, but Burzan ran onto a long ball from Wiktoria Skrzypczak to make it 3-3 in the 83rd minute. Nathy saved from Skrzypczak and Galuszka in the shootout, which Brazil won 8-7. Coach Rilany said the display "shows that the identity of the Brazilian national team is built on mentality."
Venezuela upset Germany, Yu keeps scoring
Germany had won all three of their group matches; Venezuela reached the knockouts with one win and two defeats, as one of the best third-placed teams. A goal in the fifth minute was enough: Germany failed to deal with Karla Alfonzo's cross from the right and Diana Bravo struck it in. FIFA said Germany dominated for long spells but could not take their chances, and Juneski Flores was named Player of the Match. Germany coach Sabine Loderer admitted: "We didn’t play our best game, and we could sense that some of the girls were a little nervous."
DPR Korea's Yu Jong-hyang headed in an Eh Chong-gum corner in the sixth minute and scored again in the 43rd minute, her seventh goal in Morocco and her 15th across two editions of the tournament. Kim Won-sim also scored twice, in the 33rd and 41st minutes, before Ri Ui-gyong and Ri Kyong-im added goals in the 54th and 62nd minutes. Yu said: "I'm so happy that we scored six goals and won the match." Morocco coach Youness Rabie looked back at the group stage: "If we'd brought those elements to our last two group-stage matches, we could have hoped for much better results."
Round of 16: first-day results
| Match | Score | Scorers (minute) | Player of the Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venezuela v Germany | 1-0 | Diana Bravo (5th) | Juneski Flores |
| Ghana v Argentina | 1-1, Ghana won on penalties | Jessica Appiah (16th); Mercedes Diz (86th) | Jessica Appiah |
| DPR Korea v Morocco | 6-0 | Yu Jong-hyang (6th, 43rd), Kim Won-sim (33rd, 41st), Ri Ui-gyong (54th), Ri Kyong-im (62nd) | Yu Jong-hyang |
| Brazil v Poland | 3-3, Brazil won 8-7 on penalties | Greise Kelly (11th), Marcela Bontorim (52nd), Pepe (73rd); Nicola Galuszka (34th), Zofia Burzan (36th, 83rd) | Greise Kelly |
What comes next
Ghana, now into a fifth straight quarter-final, will play the winner of Kenya v Japan. "We're going to see who our opponent is, and then we'll sit down and plan for them," Adarkwa said. "Whoever are next, Ghana are coming for them."
The round of 16 also includes USA v Spain, which will be played on Thursday, 29 October (Morocco time). Spain won all their group games to top Group F. USA beat Samoa 17-0 and scored six against Kenya before China PR beat them 3-2 to take first place in Group E. Forward Maddie DiMaria has 11 goals, six against Samoa and four against Kenya, and Amari Manning shares the assist lead with Loradana Paletta on four each. "Everyone knows Spain, they're a great team, but we are as well," coach Ciara Crinion said.