France defeated Spain in a sudden-death penalty shootout while Mexico edged Paraguay as the Round of 16 at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2025™ continued in dramatic fashion.
Japan and Canada each flexed their scoring muscles in the nightcaps, with the Asian side dominating Colombia and the North Americans dismantling Zambia.
Round of 16
Spain 0-0 France (4-5 PSO)
France goalkeeper Nell Poye was the hero as the Bleuettes defeated European rivals Spain in a sudden-death penalty shootout to reach the quarter-finals.
Poye was brought on as a late substitute for the hitherto excellent Lauryne Chevray for the spot-kicks and she made two crucial saves, including from Celia Gomez in sudden death, to help set up a last-eight clash with the Netherlands.
France had been indebted to Chevray in the 34th minute when she rushed off her line to make a point-blank save from onrushing Spain forward Lua Arufe. Spain then almost took a fortuitous lead in the 59th minute when a deep free-kick Claudia Barros which appeared to be intended as a cross flew past Chevray and clattered the post.
Spain continued to attack but Chevray held firm to secure the shootout, where Maissa Fathallah delivered the knockout blow with the winning penalty.
Quotes
“It’s exceptional for a first time with the French team in an international competition. This victory allows us to advance to the quarter-finals in the most beautiful of competitions. We may only have one in a lifetime, so it’s incredible.”
Nell Poye, France substitute goalkeeper
“Against Spain, we know we have to run a lot, make a lot of effort, and defend well. It’s a necessity against a team that attacks very, very well. We did it well. I think tactically, it was a very good match by the young players because we were very disciplined, very committed. I also believe we could have scored a goal. We were lucky on one or two occasions. The spirit of the young girls is rewarded as they fought hard to save balls on the line.”
Mickael Ferreira, France coach
“It was a very difficult game against a very strong opponent, one of the strongest to reach the round of 16. We had many chances, they practically didn’t create anything. And in the end, they were very solid in their defensive phase, so we have to applaud that too. Nothing entered the net during the 90 minutes of play, and going to penalties is a lottery. On my part, I feel very frustrated for not being able to contribute more to the team.”
Anna Alvarez, Spain goalkeeper
Mexico 1-0 Paraguay
Mexico goal: Ibarra (17)
Mexico emerged triumphant in the battle of the Americas as they edged past Paraguay to set up a quarter-final clash with Italy.
El Tricolor took the lead when Berenice Ibarra expertly headed a Valeria Alvarado corner downwards and into the net. Moments later, forward Ava Stack came close with a powerful effort which was well saved by Paraguay goalkeeper Tamara Amarilla.
Ibarra almost scored again in the 62nd minute when she utilised the swirling wind to strike a deep free-kick on target but Amarilla read it well and tipped the ball onto the crossbar. Claudia Martinez came close to finding a late leveller for Paraguay in the 85th minute after a brilliant individual run but she struck the ball straight at Valentina Murrieta.
Quotes
“We set out to take it step by step, and I think today we did well to manage the last 16 and are now in the next round, which makes me very happy. It was difficult, and also because of the stage we’re at, where it’s just a single match. I feel that after we took the lead, we were too concerned with keeping a clean sheet, and I think that cost us a little in terms of our organisation and we stopped creating chances up front.”
Miguel Gamero, Mexico coach
“Our first half was very bad. We have been coaching Paraguay since January and haven’t played like this before, but of course, they are under-17s and it happens – we’re now also seeing the two best teams going home, Spain and USA, and that’s a symbol for this type of knockout stage, this completely crazy game. So I think the first half was disappointing from us and in the second half we improved a little bit.”
Luiz Almeida, Paraguay coach
Canada 6-0 Zambia
Canada goals: Kekic (13), Feria-Estrada (30, 90+2), Angus (39), Taylor (80), Medley (85)
Canada are on their way to a final-eight showdown with Brazil after a commanding win against Zambia.
The Canadians got the opener in transition, with Lacey Kindel sliding a through ball into Melisa Kekic, who finished with aplomb. The North Americans stretched their lead to two, as a slight touch from Kekic set up an easy sweep into net for Daniela Feria-Estrada.
Canada’s attack showed no signs of letting up and an ambitious, looping left-footed shot from Mya Angus found the top right corner for a third.
It was much of the same in the second stanza and a powerful header from Chloe Taylor, a cool finish from Amy Medley and a Feria-Estrada free-kick served as the exclamation points on Canada’s celebratory night.
Quotes
“We had some really good highs, but then we also had some lows where we weren’t quite ourselves and we weren’t keeping the ball as well as we could. So in some ways it was a little bit frustrating. Zambia did a good job of breaking up play and stopping the momentum, so it was hard for us to get into our flow. We keep talking about making sure we grow every single game and that we know our identity, we know who we are and we know how we play and we just keep building on that and keep getting better.”
Jen Herst Canada head coach
“It was very special, my family and everyone was watching. So many people were asking me, ‘How does it feel to play against where you were born?’ and I was like, ‘It’s amazing’. But you know, it’s nice to beat them, too. Overall, it was really good, what we practiced is what we put in the game and it was just amazing, every game we’ve been getting better.”
Bridget Mutipula, Canada defender
“Canada was very strong. I think we had too relaxed of an attitude and that killed the tempo of the game. I think the attitude that we came in with against New Zealand was different and if we had carried on that way, we would have given Canada a good run. Canada’s group games have been good, they’ve been scoring and showing resilience. We knew we’d have to play combinations, but our girls lacked courage today to get into the final third. I think that’s where we lost it.”
Carol Kanyemba, Zambia head coach
Japan 4-0 Colombia
Japan goals: Ono (10), Fukushima (22, 57), Nakamura (43)
Japan delivered a breathtaking display of attacking football in seeing off Colombia, setting up a mouth-watering quarter-final date with holders Korea DPR.
Japan went right to work on finding a goal and it came in short order, with Ua Ono guiding a left-footed strike into the top-left corner of net. Some world-class skill doubled the Japan lead, as Noa Fukushima connected on a cross with the outside of her left leg, steering the ball home for the goal.
Colombia simply had no answer for Japan’s dizzying ball movement and Konoha Nakamura tallied the third of the night with a composed finish after another brilliant build-up. Fukushima then notched her second with another sparkling finish with the exterior of her left boot to complete the scoring.
Quotes
“Colombia was a strong team, but we prepared even harder, and I believe that effort helped us secure the win. Colombia always fights hard in every game, and our next match against Korea DPR will be very challenging because they’re a very good team. Still, I hope Japan can play some great football and rise to that challenge.”
Sadayoshi Shirai, Japan head coach
“Recently, I haven’t been in good form, but today I think I managed to play in a way that’s true to myself. I believe we played our own style, holding the ball and playing our football.”
Konoha Nakamura, Japan’s striker
“It hurts, obviously, but overall, we also have positive feelings at the end. We are heading into a World Cup in a process that was accelerated because normally the World Cup and South American Championship would be next year, but this is very important for us because our players managed to play around 20 international matches, including these four in the World Cup, and all those are positive sensations. We came, competed, wanted to give our best, won two games, lost two, and today we were defeated by a team much superior to us, they were much better from start to finish.”
Carlos Paniagua, Colombia head coach
