2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup enters business end tomorrow as four African teams seek q/final tickets

From Harry Awurumibe, Live in Morocco

As the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco enters the  business end on Wednesday, October 28, 2026 as two of the four African countries that qualified for the Round of 16 will be on parade with Ghana battling for the quarter-finals ticket with Argentina in the early showdown at Pitch 2 of Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat by 3pm Morocco time.

Already the world football governing body FIFA has appointed Emanuela Rusta as the centre referee with Ivona PEJIC as Assistant Referee 1; Catalina NAN, Assistant Referee 2 and Natalie Simon as Fourth official while Camille SORIANO as Reserve referee.

Also, the second African nation and hosts Morocco will tackle defending champions North Korea in a must-watch encounter holding at Pitch 3 of Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat by 5pm Morocco local time.

Match officials for the headline game of the Round of 16 between Morocco and North Korea are Karen HERNANDEZ (Referee), Mayra MORA (Assistant Referee 1), Karla FLORES (Assistant Referee 2), Miriama BOCKOVA (Fourth official) and Linda SCHMID (Reserve referee).

The Moroccans will draw inspiration from Nigeria’s 3-1 defeat of North Korea in their last group match last Friday although the Koreans will not like to be beaten by an African country the second time around.

Elsewhere, two other matches involving Germany versus Venezuela scheduled for Pitch 1 at Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat by 3pm just as Brazil and Poland will clash at Pitch 1 of the same venue by 5pm Morocco local time

The Round of 16 fixtures for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026 take place on October 28 and October 29, 2026.

Meanwhile, the remaining two African countries will be playing their Round of 16 matches on Thursday, October 29, 2026 with Nigeria squaring up against Mexico in a winner takes all encounter at Pitch 2 of Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat by 3pm.

After crushing the defending champions North Korea 3-1 in the Group B last match,  the Flamingos are poised to eliminate Mexico in the Round of 16 to book a quarter-finals ticket.

FIFA has appointed Ms. Miriama BOCKOVA (Referee), Anita Vad (Assistant Referee 1), Tilde HEDBERG (Assistant Referee 2), Lara Lee (Fourth official) and Nuannid DONJANGREED (Reserve referee).

Later on the same day Kenya and Japan will tango at Pitch 2 of Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat by 5pm with referee Paula FERNANDEZ incharge of this tie.

Her assistants are Nataly ARTEAGA (Assistant Referee 1), Carolina VICUNA (Assistant Referee 2), Natalie Simon

(Fourth official) and Stasa SPUR (Reserve referee).

Also, on Thursday, China PR will take on France at Pitch 1 of Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat. The referee is Alejandra QUISBERT with Elizabeth BLANCO as Assistant Referee 1; Assistant Referee 2 is Maria Luisa CABEZAS;

Fourth official will be Vimarest DIAZ while Reserve referee will be Santa MEDINA.

Finally, the blockbuster clash will be between Spain and  USA in Pitch  4 of Mohammed VI Football Complex, Rabat as Ms.DONG Fangyu will be the centre Referee; XIE Lijun as assistant Referee 1; BAO Mengxiao is Assistant Referee 2; OH Hyeonjeong as Fourth official just as Reserve referee will be Suwida WONGKRAISORN.