When watching them compete from the stands in Rabat or on a screen, seeing how effortlessly they dribble or the way they score goals from seemingly impossible angles, you tend to forget that the talented young footballers competing in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2025™ are still just teenagers. For them, day-to-day life often involves alternating between football and schoolwork.
You might even think that a fledgling international player would be exempt from studying during such a prestigious tournament, and that the World Cup would be an excuse to set aside the textbooks, but this is far from the case.
“We’re competing, but that doesn’t mean we have to give up our education,” explained France captain Tante Diakite. She was quick to add that the vast majority of young female footballers in North Africa need to stay focused on their academic work.
“I’m doing classes online to keep up with my coursework and not fall behind,” said Caterina Venturelli from Italy.
“We’ve brought textbooks to the tournament to do some work, so it won’t be too difficult when we get back,” added Norway’s Maria Hagen.
While they might not be able to do their homework on match days, the up-and-coming female stars usually find the time they need in between training. “We’re very grateful to the team for this time to study,” said Spanish midfielder Carolina Ferrera. “They give us an hour, and sometimes more, and we really make the most of it, so we can stay on top of our studies.”
“We’re very fortunate that our staff is very supportive and we have time designated during the day,” echoed American Ellie Kocher, who even sees it as an opportunity to unwind during the tournament. “That’s just like quiet, chill time,” she said. Carolina Ferrera had a similar take. “It’s actually a time for you to relax. When you’re studying, football takes a back seat.”
While coaches are keen to help these talented youngsters develop their skills on the pitch during the tournament, they cannot overlook the importance of supporting girls who are juggling both sport and their education.
“We’re making sure we’re allocating specific study time so that they can get their studies done and even join classes online,” said Canada’s head coach Jen Herst. “We make sure we prioritise that.”
Faced with the rush of emotions and excitement that a World Cup generates, these young players cannot always concentrate fully or resist the temptation to skip school for a few days. “In all honesty, I’m not so worried about my schoolwork. I’m more focused on the pitch,” commented Italy’s Giulia Galli with a smile. She is currently the tournament’s top scorer. “I do as much as I can,” admitted her compatriot Giulia Guerzoni. “It’s definitely not what I should be doing, but I’m trying to relish the experience because I may never get to do it again.”
“It’s a struggle to fit everything in because we spend a lot of time on the pitch here,” explained Paraguayan striker Claudia Barrios. “We can handle everything, though. If you’re patient and set aside a few hours each day to study, you can keep up with everything.”
US international Mak Whitham has come up with the perfect solution to avoid falling behind. The 14-year-old, who became the youngest player ever to sign a professional contract with the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), had everything planned out. “I do homeschool,” explained the promising striker. “Actually, before I left, I got all of my school done so I don’t have to stress about it.”
Some of the luckier ones have been able to arrange things differently. “I asked for permission at school,” explained Victoria Mbali from Zambia. “But when I get back, I’ll still go finish my schoolwork.”” “I still go to school, but I don’t have any homework to do at the moment, so I can focus 100% [on the World Cup]”, said China’s Zhou Xinyi.
Most if not all the players who were interviewed placed great importance on their academic pursuits. “We know we’re working on two projects at once,” commented Bleuettes captain Diakite. “We know how to separate the two. We’re focused on the pitch, but off it, we realise there are other things we have to do. That’s what I think helps us stay focused and keep going with whatever we set out to do.”
“Education is what will ultimately make us better people. It will set us up for success in all areas of our lives,” concluded Carolina Ferrera.
