The second round of group stage action at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Morocco got underway in high-scoring fashion on Tuesday across the pitches of the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat.
Reigning champions DPR Korea and European powerhouses Germany officially became the first two nations to punch their tickets to the Round of 16. Meanwhile, Argentina claimed a landmark historic victory over New Zealand, and Nigeria put their opening-day setback behind them with a vital performance against Puerto Rico.
Group A
Argentina 2–0 New Zealand
Argentina produced a dominant, aggressive display to register their first-ever victory in FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup history, eliminating New Zealand in the process.
The Albiceleste set the tempo early, hitting the crossbar three times in the opening 40 minutes via long-range rockets.
Their tactical persistence paid off in the 42nd minute when Brunella Pilati delivered a curling cross for Mercedes Diz to power home a header. Diz sealed the historic points in the second half, guiding a exquisite left-footed volley off a Violeta Alvarez delivery past the keeper.
Morocco 2–4 Germany
European champions Germany delivered a first-half tactical clinic against host nation Morocco to seal top spot in Group A with a match to spare.
Marie Kleemann opened the scoring after a loose clearance, before Lena Martens met Mia Giesen's wide delivery with a superb outside-of-the-boot volley. Clara Choisy added a third before halftime, and Giesen converted a penalty shortly after the restart to make it 4–0.
Morocco showed immense character late on, with Nessma Mouradi scoring a brilliant solo effort followed by an injury-time penalty, but Germany's structural dominance was never in doubt.
DPR Korea 6–1 Poland
Defending champions DPR Korea put on a masterclass in high-tempo pressing and rapid transition, but the match belonged to star forward Yu Jong-hyang.
After Ri Ye-rim opened the scoring, Yu struck in the 29th minute before Kim Won-sim added two stunning goals—including an extraordinary outside-of-the-boot effort into the top corner.
Poland pulled one back immediately after halftime through a 25-yard screamer from Nicola Galuszka, but Yu answered by heading home from a corner in the 53rd minute. The goal marked her 12th career U-17 World Cup goal, surpassing Venezuela's Deyna Castellanos as the greatest goalscorer in the tournament's history.
Nigeria 2–0 Puerto Rico
Nigeria revived their Morocco 2026 campaign with a hard-fought, physical performance over tournament debutantes Puerto Rico.
After Chidi Harmony rattled the crossbar early on, Nigeria made their pressure count in the 25th minute. Following a scramble from a slack clearance, Oluwakemi Adegbuyi reacted quickest to rifle home the opener.
Puerto Rico pushed hard in the second half, forcing Nigerian keeper Jane Ijirigho into a magnificent fingertip save off Isabella Sanabria-Cora's strike, but substitute Precious Oscar converted deep in stoppage time to wrap up the points for the Flamingos.
Matchday 4 By The Numbers
12 — Total career tournament goals scored by DPR Korea’s Yu Jong-hyang, establishing an all-time U-17 Women's World Cup record.
1 — Historic first-ever victory for Argentina at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup following their 2–0 win over New Zealand.
2 — Teams officially qualified for the Round of 16 on Day 4: Germany (Group A) and DPR Korea (Group B).
17 — Total goals scored across Tuesday's four fixtures, keeping tournament production at an elite pace.
0 — Points for New Zealand, making them the first nation officially eliminated from Morocco 2026 after back-to-back losses.
