Japan chase a second title and Nigeria a first African final: the U-17 Women's World Cup is decided this Saturday in Rabat

The FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Morocco 2026 has its final: Japan and Nigeria meet this Saturday, 7 November, at 15:30 Argentina time (18:30 UTC) at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, the tournament's single venue. Earlier, at 12:00 Argentina time, North Korea and Brazil play for third place.

Japan: unbeaten, with three finals behind them

Japan have not lost a game: 5-0 against Zambia, 2-0 against France and 2-0 against Venezuela in Group C, 3-1 against Kenya in the round of 16, 1-0 against Ghana in the quarter-finals and a semi-final against North Korea, the two-time defending champions, settled on penalties. That is 14 goals scored and just 2 conceded in six matches.

The semi-final was the toughest test. Ri Ui-gyong put North Korea ahead in the 52nd minute and Japan only levelled in stoppage time, through a Won Sol-gyong own goal after a VAR review. In the shoot-out, goalkeeper Kou Kadowaki saved one kick, North Korea hit the post with another and Asuka Tanaka converted the decisive penalty for a 4-1 win.

Japan know this stage well: they were champions in 2014, beating Spain 2-0 in Costa Rica, and lost the 2010 and 2016 finals, both on penalties, to South Korea and North Korea. This will be their fourth final and their first in ten years.

Nigeria: from an opening defeat to history

Nigeria's road was different. They started with a 2-1 defeat to Poland, then won everything: 2-0 against Puerto Rico and a 3-1 win over North Korea that hinted at what was to come. In the round of 16 they beat Mexico 2-1, in the quarter-finals Venezuela 1-0 and in the semi-finals Brazil 3-1, with a goal from Queen Joseph and a brace from Awawu Bashiru, named player of the match.

No African team had ever reached a final of this World Cup. The closest had been Ghana, third in 2012, and Nigeria themselves, third in 2022. Now they go for the title against a Japan side that is yet to lose.

Both finalists beat the champions

North Korea, four-time champions and winners of the 2024 and 2025 editions, leave without the trophy after losing to both finalists: 3-1 to Nigeria in the group stage and on penalties to Japan in the semi-final. They still have the bronze match against Brazil, who reached the semi-finals after knocking out Poland on penalties in the round of 16 and beating China 2-1 in the quarter-finals.

Final facts

• Match: Japan vs Nigeria, final of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Morocco 2026.
• Date and time: Saturday 7 November, 15:30 Argentina time (18:30 UTC, 19:30 CET).
• Venue: Mohammed VI Football Complex, Rabat.
• Third place: North Korea vs Brazil, same Saturday at 12:00 Argentina time.
• The tournament: 24 teams, and the second of five consecutive editions to be held in Morocco between 2025 and 2029.

Sources: FIFA, Las Futbolistas, 365Scores, Wikipedia.