Five things we learned from the Fifa U-17 Women’s World Cup
Highlights from the Fifa U-17 Women's World Cup in the Dominican Republic
The Fifa U-17 Women’s World Cup wrapped up in the Dominican Republic last week and despite the tough weather conditions it was a brilliant tournament that showcased some of the best young talent in the women’s game.
Heading into this tournament, Spain and North Korea were the in-form teams to beat - Spain were crowned European champions in May following an exciting showing at the Uefa Women’s Under-17 Championship while North Korea beat Asian Cup holders Japan to clinch a fourth U-17 Asian Cup.
It was those two sides that would meet in the final, with North Korea edging past Spain on penalties. USA played England for the bronze medal, with the Americans coming out on top and winning 3-0.
Let’s look at some key takeaways from the tournament.
North Korea’s record-breaking treble has set the tone
This tournament saw a new record being set as North Korea became the first team to win the title three times. They now hold both the U-20 and U-17 world titles at the same time. Spain have two U-17 World Cups.
It’s safe to say North Korea are having a moment.
Choe Il-son, who was top scorer at the U-20 World Cup, played almost every game in the Dominican Republic but she had to be substituted early on several occasions. This opened up space for another star to take centre stage. Jon Il-chong, who was awarded the Golden Ball for best player in the tournament, really stepped up for her team. Her ability to create space on the field, consistently shake off defenders and set up opportunities for her teammates made her the tournament’s standout player.
Il-chong and Chloe Rim Jang, North Korea’s top scorer with four goals, made a great pairing in the team’s attack, but their teammates deserve plaudits too. From goalkeeper Pak Ju-gyong, who proved the difference in the final with some excellent decision making and movement to pull of a number of saves, and her backline who only conceded twice in six games. North Korea’s attack not only applied relentless pressure but had the the cutting edge and technical ability to play the perfectly weighted pass or accurate cross when it mattered most. The team’s direct playing style also regularly caught other teams out.
For a more in-depth look at North Korea’s journey to youth-level dominance, take a look at this Sophie Lawson piece.
Spain’s dominance is far from over
Even though it was not meant to be for Spain, there are a lot of positives to take from the performances across the tournament. Spain scored 19 goals in six games and that was without having their 2024 Under-17 Euro top goalscorer Alba Cerrato for two games. Cerrato was given a two-match ban after receiving a straight red card for a silly challenge in the group stage win against South Korea. That did not disrupt their goal tally one bit and the spread of players in positions from which they can create goalscoring opportunities and score is one of Spain’s biggest strengths.
The other half to Cerrato’s dynamic duo Celia Segura scored four goals - winning the Bronze Ball and the Bronze Boot in the process. When Segura wasn’t making runs and drawing defenders in, her Barcelona teammate Clara Serrajordi would step up to make key progressive passes.
However, the brightest star for Spain was Real Madrid’s Pau Comendador, a forward who really came into her own. Comendador spent most of the tournament showcasing her attacking mindset, creating chances and running between the lines. She scored five goals, including a brilliant hat-trick against Ecuador. She was a menace in that 5-0 win, going for everything and showing off her sharp decision making. She was rewarded with the Golden Boot and the Silver Ball.
Professionalism trickling down the age groups
Despite having fewer world titles at youth level than their rivals, USA are still known for their talent development. As the NWSL, thanks to Olivia Moultrie, has lifted age restrictions for going professional (previously set at 18 years old), we’ve seen an influx of young players choosing to skip the college route to go professional and make a name for themselves. USA’s captain and Silver Boot winner Kennedy Fuller, who recorded four goals and two assists at the tournament, plays her club football at Angel City. She is a midfield engine with an eye for goal, always in the right place and rarely in two minds about getting a shot off. She links up well with NWSL colleague Melanie Barcenas of San Diego Wave. She has a lethal shot and can create chances out of thin air.
Then there’s the seriously young talent. Ecuador’s striker Jaslym Valverde is just 14 years old and featured in all of Ecuador’s games at their first ever U-17 Women’s World Cup. The strong target player has great timing and an ability to show up in the right place at the right time. She can also create opportunities for herself and managed to get two goals in the tournament. Jane Oboavwoduo is also just 14 and started three of England’s six games, recording one assist.
It’s great to see the coaches trusting in their players and actually giving them a chance to affect the game. They’re not just there to sit on the bench, they are impactful players who can change it up and contribute on the pitch.
Nigeria and Japan need to find a way to reinvent themselves
Looking at the rise of USA and England its easy to see how success has arrived off the back of sustained growth for the professional game in their respective countries. They have domestic leagues where they can develop talent and players can be challenged from a young age. Nigeria and Japan have historically been successful at youth level but are now losing ground while other countries make strides.
Japan fell to England on penalties in the quarter-final stages while Nigeria lost 2-0 to USA. For Japan, the 2014 U-17 World Cup victory and subsequent runner up finish in 2016 feels like a distant memory.
Nigeria’s top goalscorer Shakirat Moshood scored four goals and grabbed one assist in four games, among them a 89th-minute winner against a defensively robust Dominican Republic. For her winner, Moshood receives the ball way outside of the box, makes one turn to create space for herself and launches a rocket of a shot that sneaks in just under the bar. Nigeria were the only African side to make it to the last eight of the competition and with more internationals with Nigerian heritage joining the senior team, it will become crucial that the country creates a pathway for younger players to succeed at the top level.
Female coaches on the rise?
The recent conversation about the lack of female English coaches in the WSL sparked an interesting reflection on representation at youth level.
Nine of the 16 teams at the U-17 Women’s World Cup had a female head coach, albeit the two finalists both had male coaches. The bronze medal game between England and USA featured two female coaches. Brazil, Dominican Republic, Kenya, South Korea, Mexico, New Zealand and Zambia all had female coaches, showing the spread across the globe.
England’s Natalie Henderson is a promising prospect. She’s been the coach of the U-17 side since August 2022 and in that short period of time took the team to a maiden U-17 Euros final and a subsequent U-17 World Cup, England’s first in eight years. Henderson talks a lot about the importance of always wanting to learn more and the magic that is to be found outside of your comfort zone.
Henderson’s team epitomises what it means to “find a way to win” even in tough matches. That mentality proved vital in England’s tough quarter-final against Japan, where Henderson made a strategic move by substituting goalkeeper Rebekah Dowsett specifically for the penalty shootout. Dowsett returned the favour by coming up with some key saves, helping her team win and set up a semi-final against Spain. Although they lost that game, the team showed tenacity, holding their own against a world-class Spanish side and illustrating how Henderson’s coaching has significantly narrowed the performance gap with top-tier teams.
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