Japan
How they qualified: Nominated by AFC based on performances from past three AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cups
Appearances: Nine (2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2022, 2024, 2025)
Best U-17 World Cup result: Champions (2014)
Coach: Sadayoshi Shirai
Standing at just 150cm, Fukushima will likely be one of the smallest players at Morocco 2025 but when you possess the kind of exceptional technical qualities, dribbling and close control that Fukushima does then size isn’t really a concern.
A creative midfielder by trade, the 16-year-old demonstrated her versatility by regularly featuring at right-back in last year’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup. She then went on to start all four matches for Japan at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Dominican Republic 2024™ as an advanced creative threat as the side fell to England on penalties in the quarter-finals.
The versatile, diminutive, piano-playing Snoopy fan will be out to dazzle for the Little Nadeshiko and looms as one of the stars of the North African showpiece.
New Zealand
How they qualified: Winners of the 2024 OFC U-16 Women’s Championship
Appearances: Nine (2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2022, 2024, 2025)
Best U-17 World Cup result: Third place (2018)
Coach: Alana Gunn
Part of the squad that struggled last time out in the Dominican Republic, starlet Pia Vlok is set to return for a second tilt at the U-17 Women’s World Cup a year older and with a headline domestic move to her name. Still in school, the dynamic young forward has signed her first professional deal with A-League outfit Wellington Phoenix, where she will be mentored by new head coach Bev Priestman.
The Gold Medal-winning Canada boss at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics has already spoken glowingly of Vlok, describing her as a future Football Fern. “Pia has shown on many, many occasions her quality in big games for New Zealand, and her ability to contribute to a team,” Priestman noted.
Vlok has the ability to carve open matches with her dribbling and willingness to take defenders on, while she is also a fine finisher.
Paraguay
How they qualified: Won the 2025 South American U-17 Women’s Championship
Appearances: Four (2008, 2014, 2016, 2025)
Best U-17 World Cup result: Group stage (2008, 2014, 2016)
Coach: Luiz Guilherme Almeida
When she kicks off her Morocco 2025 campaign, Claudia Martinez will arrive with tremendous momentum. Not only has the young striker already had a taste of a global tournament one age group above at last year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, but the young Paraguayan has also made headlines with the senior team.
At just 17, Martinez underlined her enormous potential by finishing as joint top-scorer at the Copa America Femenina earlier this year. Add to that her dazzling performances in the Morocco 2025 qualifiers, where she was South America’s leading scorer with 10 goals, and it is easy to see the Olimpia forward emerging as a strong contender for the adidas Golden Boot in Morocco.
Zambia
How they qualified: Reached final stage of African U-17 Women’s World Cup qualification
Appearances: Three (2014, 2024, 2025)
Best U-17 World Cup result: Group stage (2014, 2024)
Coach: Carol Kanyemba
One of the brightest young stars on the African continent, Chipasula led the line for her nation twelve months ago in the Dominican Republic, starting all three matches for Zambia as they fell at the group stage in what was their second tournament appearance.
While the 17-year-old couldn’t make much of an impact then, if her form in qualification is anything to go by she is primed to do so in North Africa.
Having plundered six goals in just four matches, Chipasula was one of the stars of the preliminaries and will be looking to pilot the Copper Princesses into the knockout stage for the first time.
