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FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup: Defending Champions Korea DPR Thrash Hosts Morocco 6-0 as Quarter-Finals Take Shape

SALÉ, Morocco, 29 October 2026 — Defending champions Korea DPR sent a warning to the rest of the field at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup on Wednesday, thrashing hosts Morocco 6-0 in Salé, while Venezuela stunned Germany, and Ghana and Brazil survived penalty shootouts to reach the quarter-finals.

Illustration of a youth women's football match at a stadium in Morocco at sunset

Illustration: A youth women's football match at a stadium in Morocco at sunset.

What Happened

Four quarter-final places were decided on the first day of the round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Morocco. The results, played on Wednesday, 28 October, were: Germany 0-1 Venezuela, Korea DPR 6-0 Morocco, Argentina 1-1 Ghana (Ghana won 5-4 on penalties), and Brazil 3-3 Poland (Brazil won 8-7 on penalties).

Korea DPR produced the most emphatic performance of the day at the Mohammed VI Football Complex. The defending champions led 4-0 by half-time against the host nation and added two more goals after the restart, ending Morocco's run on home soil in ruthless fashion.

Morocco had reached the knockout stage as one of the best third-placed teams from the group phase. The Atlas Lionesses opened their campaign with a 4-0 win over New Zealand, but then lost 4-2 to Germany and 5-1 to Argentina. Against the defending champions, they could not find a way back after the early damage.

Venezuela caused the day's biggest upset by eliminating Germany, the Group A winners, with a first-half goal. Germany had looked like one of the tournament's stronger sides in the group stage, but a single goal was enough to send them home and put Venezuela into the last eight.

Illustration of a tense penalty shootout in a youth women's football match under floodlights

Illustration: A tense penalty shootout under floodlights in a youth women's football match.

The other two ties went to the spot. Ghana held Argentina 1-1 in normal time before winning the shootout 5-4, while Brazil and Poland played out a thrilling 3-3 draw before Brazil edged the shootout 8-7. Under the tournament's knockout rules, matches level at the end of normal playing time go straight to penalties, with no extra time played — a format that has already produced high drama in Salé.

Background

The 2026 edition of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup began on 17 October in Morocco and runs until the final on 8 November in Rabat. It is the first edition of the women's under-17 tournament to feature an expanded knockout field, with the round of 16 played across 28 and 29 October.

Korea DPR arrived in Morocco as defending champions and have again shown the ruthless efficiency that has made them a dominant force at this age level. Their 6-0 win over the hosts was the largest margin of the round so far and underlined why they are favourites to retain the title.

Brazil, Ghana and Venezuela have all reached the quarter-finals through very different routes. Brazil needed nerve from twelve yards after a six-goal thriller against Poland, Ghana held their composure against a strong Argentina side, and Venezuela produced the tournament's standout defensive display to shut out Germany.

For Morocco, the defeat ends a home campaign that began with real promise. The 4-0 opening win over New Zealand raised hopes of a deep run, but consecutive heavy defeats to Germany and Argentina left the hosts relying on a third-place finish — and the draw then paired them with the defending champions.

Why It Matters

The round of 16 results have reshaped the tournament. Germany's exit removes one of the European favourites, while Korea DPR's statement win puts every remaining team on notice. At under-17 level, tournaments like this are a shop window for the next generation of senior internationals, and performances in Morocco are watched closely by clubs and national-team coaches around the world.

The results also matter for the host nation. Morocco has invested heavily in women's football in recent years, and a home World Cup was meant to showcase that progress. The heavy defeat to Korea DPR is a reminder of the gap that still exists at youth level between Morocco and the world's best — but the experience of playing a home tournament, and reaching the knockout stage, remains a building block for the programme.

For the four quarter-finalists, the prize is now a place in the semi-finals in Rabat. Ghana will face the winner of Japan against Kenya, Korea DPR will meet the winner of Spain against the United States, Venezuela will play the winner of China PR against France, and Brazil will take on the winner of Nigeria against Mexico.

Illustration of young women footballers celebrating together on the pitch after a knockout win

Illustration: Young women footballers celebrating together after a knockout victory.

What Happens Next

The remaining four round-of-16 ties — China PR against France, Nigeria against Mexico, Japan against Kenya, and Spain against the United States — complete the last-16 line-up on Thursday in Salé. Their winners will join Venezuela, Korea DPR, Ghana and Brazil in the quarter-finals.

The quarter-finals are scheduled for Sunday, 1 November, in Salé, with the semi-finals to follow on 4 November in Rabat. The final is scheduled for 7 November in Rabat, when the new — or returning — world champions at under-17 level will be crowned.

Korea DPR will enter the quarter-finals as favourites regardless of whether they face Spain or the United States. Brazil's shootout win over Poland showed their resilience, while Ghana and Venezuela will both believe they can go further after eliminating Argentina and Germany respectively.

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FAQ

Who reached the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday?

Venezuela, Korea DPR, Ghana and Brazil. Venezuela beat Germany 1-0, Korea DPR beat Morocco 6-0, Ghana beat Argentina 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, and Brazil beat Poland 8-7 on penalties after a 3-3 draw.

How did hosts Morocco exit the tournament?

Morocco lost 6-0 to defending champions Korea DPR in Salé on 28 October. Korea DPR led 4-0 at half-time and scored twice more after the restart.

What happens if a knockout match is level after normal time?

There is no extra time at this tournament. Matches level at the end of normal playing time go straight to a penalty shootout, as happened in both the Ghana-Argentina and Brazil-Poland ties.

When are the quarter-finals?

The quarter-finals are scheduled for Sunday, 1 November, in Salé. The semi-finals follow on 4 November in Rabat, and the final is scheduled for 7 November in Rabat.

Who will the four Wednesday winners face in the quarter-finals?

Ghana will face the winner of Japan against Kenya, Korea DPR will meet the winner of Spain against the United States, Venezuela will play the winner of China PR against France, and Brazil will take on the winner of Nigeria against Mexico.

Sources

Reporting on the Wednesday round-of-16 results and Thursday fixtures: NigFooty, 29 October 2026; ThisDay, 29 October 2026; Benin Web TV, 29 October 2026 (Morocco's group results and half-time score); 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup knockout bracket and tournament dates.

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