The Round of 16 at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2025™ kicked off in spectacular style with the Netherlands defeating USA in a sudden-death penalty shootout while Brazil cruised past China PR.
The day was then capped by a brilliant performance from holders Korea DPR against hosts Morocco, while Italy took down Nigeria.
Round of 16
USA 1-1 Netherlands (6-7 PSO)
Netherlands goal: Pennock (3)
USA goal: Johnson (57)
Goalkeeper Maren Groothoff was the hero as the Netherlands defeated USA in a sudden-death penalty shootout to spring one of the biggest surprises of the tournament so far.
The Dutch scraped through to the Round of 16 as one of the best third-placed teams while the Americans dominated the group stage. But the European champions held on for a penalty shootout where Groothoff saved Chloe Sadler’s effort to secure their passage into the quarter-finals where they will face France or Spain.
Earlier, Liv Pennock had given the Dutch the lead when she broke clear of the American defence and rifled the ball into the net. USA were completely transformed after the break and levelled the scores through a brilliant long-range effort from Micayla Johnson.
USA desperately pushed for a late winner and came agonizingly close with Nyanya Touray’s powerful free-kick striking the top of the crossbar, and then Lauren Malsom hitting the ball straight at Groothoff, who was once again the saviour in the penalty shootout.
Quotes
“I didn’t know. But we believed, we believed. It was tough. The USA are a great team, great players. But so is my team, the fight, the work, the sprints until the last minute. And then, well, penalties. Now we’re here. It was an unbelievable defensive effort, now we have to do that again, and again, and again. And then every opponent will have a tough game against us.”
Olivier Amelink, Netherlands coach
“They’re a great team, they’re champions of Europe for a reason and we knew it was going to be a challenge because they’re good at what they do. At this stage in a tournament nothing’s ever easy and so we take it, we learn, we grow and the best thing I can do is support the girls. It’s never easy to not win but it’s how they learn and develop and grow from this.”
Katie Schoepfer, USA coach
Brazil 3-0 China PR
Brazil goals: Kaylane (3), Evelin (54), Iseppe (58)
Brazil cruised past China PR to reach the quarter-finals, where they will face the winners of Wednesday’s clash between Canada and Zambia.
The Seleção dominated from the outset and opened the scoring when Kaylane picked up the ball on the edge of the area, cut inside to her left and struck the ball into the net from a tight angle. Brazil were then awarded a penalty after a foul by Zhang Kecan on Evelin, but Marina struck the resulting spot kick wide of the post.
Evelin ensured the victory by playing a role in both of Brazil’s goals early in the second half, which came in a dizzying four-minute spell. Firstly, the forward scored with a stunning long-range effort and she then turned provider as she set up Giovana Iseppe, who broke free of the China PR defence and slotted home.
Quotes
“I’m so happy that I could help my team in this game. We scored many goals, because we focused on finishing the game the fastest we could. It went so well. I’m also so happy that I didn’t concede a goal, because I really felt all these days that I wasn’t giving my best. So I’m really, really, happy that I could [have] this clean sheet.”
Ana Morgani, Brazil goalkeeper
“We reached the Round of 16. I hope this will happen again in the future. I even wish our players a better future and a better result on the World Cup stage. In our team, we have half of the players who are only 15 or 16 years old. They will have a lot of chances and opportunities in the upcoming tournaments in the following years. I think those players will show their ability and show their best performance in the upcoming World Cups.”
Wang Hongliang, China PR coach
“We were very effective today. Football is funny: today wasn’t our best collective performance, but it was one of our best games in terms of attitude, effort, resilience and competitive mentality. And today, the ball found the net. We’re very happy. For the first time in the history of the U-17 Seleção, we’ve made it past the first knock-out round. We want to make even more history. That’s four games down, three to go.”
Rilany Silva, Brazil coach
Korea DPR 6-1 Morocco
Korea DPR goals: Yu (3, 79), Kim (10), Ri Kyong-im (42), Diyen own goal (43), Ri Jin-a (71)
Morocco goal: Ferkous (89)
Reigning champions Korea DPR left no doubt in romping to victory against host nation Morocco.
Korea DPR scored with their first attack, as Morocco failed to clear and Yu Jong-hyang headed into the net. In short order the advantage was doubled on a clever back-heeled finish from Kim Won-sim off a corner kick.
Shortly before half-time, the holders tacked on two more, first with Ri Kyong-im swinging in a free-kick into the left side of net, followed by an Imene Diyen own goal after goalkeeper Salma Assahl had spilled in front of her goal.
Korea DPR captain Ri Jin-a then got in on the act in the second stanza, lashing home a left-footed laser, before another Assahl fumble from a free-kick made for an easy tap-in for Yu. Morocco would get a late consolation goal, though, with Maissane Ferkous turning in a rebound.
Quotes
“First of all, we passed the group stage. It was wonderful for us, it was a dream. We had not at all expected this match to turn out like that, of course. We were expecting to win. We gave it our all, we prepared well. The coach gave us good instructions. We had everything to make it difficult for them. But I think it’s mostly mental fatigue. We have young players, I am one of the taller ones, and I was born at the end of the year. We have a 2011-born player, and the majority of the starting eleven are 2009s. They are little, they still have a lot to learn. And I am sure that next year, they will do much better, and they will make a big impact. Remember that.”
Maryam Rahmoune, Morocco defender
“My players are very young, but I feel they improve match by match. Participating in this kind of tournament, which combines physical skill, tactical understanding, and mental strength, helps the players grow. And it’s obvious that the players can still become even better.”
Pak Song-jin, Korea DPR head coach
Italy 4-0 Nigeria
Italy goals: Copelli (45), Venturelli (58), Robino (63), Giudici (89)
Italy’s spotless tournament continued in full force as they marched past Nigeria.
There were chances a plenty for both sides in the first half, but it was Italy’s Anna Copelli finding the scoresheet first, as her left-footed shot from curled under the diving arms of Nigeria goalkeeper Sylvia Echefu.
Italy then gave themselves a two-goal cushion on a ball flighted in by Caterina Venturelli that ended up sailing over the head of Echefu and into net. Soon enough it was three, with Giulia Robino firing home a right-footed free-kick.
Rachele Giudici rounded out the festive night for the Italians with an easy push into net in the final minutes.
Quotes
“Honestly, it’s quite a painful. We came into the game with mindset of doing something special, making sure that we win and we progress to the next stage. Unfortunately, we held the game for 44 minutes before the painful goal came in and it was all squandered on the second half. It’s one of those things. The players gained a lot of experience. Going to the World Cup, having met many other nations, many other players and all together, those experiences go a long way to help their career, to make them superstars in the future.”
Bankole Olowookere, Nigeria coach
“Above all we are very proud and very happy with what the girls are showing on the pitch, game after game, continuing to grow in courage, confidence. The idea is to continue like this until the end. It was a difficult game, an intense game from minute one to the end. Once we broke through, the girls gained even more courage and went to close out the game.”
Viviana Schiavi, Italy coach
