FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2025
FIFA confirmed in December 2023 that Morocco will host the women’s U-17 finals in 2025, 2027, and 2029, making the Kingdom the first nation to stage multiple consecutive editions of a women’s youth World Cup. The tournament expands to 24 teams and becomes an annual fixture on the international calendar, underscoring Morocco’s leadership in women’s football following the Atlas Lionesses’ breakthrough run at the 2023 senior World Cup.
What the New Format Looks Like
- The finals feature 24 teams divided into six groups of four. The top two in each group plus the four best third-placed sides qualify for a 16-team knockout bracket (Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final).
- FIFA has not yet published the slot allocation by confederation, but Morocco qualifies automatically as host. CAF qualifying is expected to conclude in early 2025.
- All knockout fixtures follow FIFA’s youth competition protocol: if tied after 90 minutes, matches progress directly to penalties.
Timeline — What’s Confirmed So Far
- 2024: Stadium refurbishments tied to Morocco’s joint 2030 World Cup bid (Rabat, Tangier, Marrakesh, Agadir, Fez) are being sequenced to support the U-17 Women’s tournament footprint.
- Early 2025: CAF qualifying rounds will determine the continent’s representatives (excluding host Morocco).
- Mid 2025: FIFA will stage the official draw and release the detailed match calendar, ticketing timelines, and team base allocations.
- Late 2025: Tournament window expected in the October–November period (exact dates pending FIFA confirmation).
Planned Host Footprint
While FIFA is yet to publish the venue list, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has identified the following cities in its hosting dossier:
- Rabat — Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium and the Mohammed VI Football Complex for training bases.
- Casablanca axis — leveraging upgrades at the Mohammed V complex ahead of 2030.
- Tangier — Ibn Batouta Stadium, already tested by the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup.
- Marrakesh — the Grand Stade redevelopment delivers a modern bowl for double-headers.
- Agadir and Fez — secondary clusters supporting group-stage coverage nationwide.
FRMF has emphasised legacy projects around community pitches and women’s academies in each city to align with FIFA’s infrastructure benchmarks.
Pathway for the Atlas Lionesses U-17
- Talent pipeline: The FRMF’s 2023–2027 women’s football roadmap expands the Mohammed VI Football Complex residency for girls aged 15–17 and encourages women’s academies at top-flight clubs.
- Competitive build-up: Federation officials have highlighted plans for cross-confederation friendly windows during 2024–25 to expose the squad to European and African opposition ahead of the finals.
- Coaching development: CAF A and B licensing courses are now mandatory for national youth staff, with partnerships in place to bring UEFA-licensed mentors into Moroccan camps.
- Community outreach: Grassroots festivals and school programmes in Souss-Massa, Oriental, and Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab are part of the legacy initiatives tied to the tournament.
Stay on Top of Updates
This hub will be updated as soon as FIFA releases the final match schedule, ticketing information, and venue confirmations. Media, travel partners, and supporters can reach out now to register interest.