Morocco will host the 10th edition of the competition, which runs until 7 November 2026, bringing together some of the brightest young talents in women’s football. FIFA has confirmed that all matches up to and including the semi-finals will be played in Rabat.
Nigeria begin campaign against Poland
Nigeria’s Flamingos will begin their campaign against Poland on Saturday, 17 October, in one of four opening-day fixtures.
The hosts, Morocco, will face New Zealand on the same day, while Germany take on Argentina and Korea DPR meet Puerto Rico. citeturn592269search1
The Flamingos will then face Puerto Rico on 20 October before taking on Korea DPR on 23 October in their remaining Group B matches.
24 teams, six groups
The expanded tournament features 24 teams divided into six groups of four. The top two teams in each group, alongside the four best third-placed sides, will advance to the Round of 16.
From there, the competition will move into a knockout format, with the semi-finals scheduled for 4 November and the final and third-place match set for 7 November at Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium.
Morocco hosts for a second consecutive year
Morocco is staging the tournament for the second year in a row, following the 2025 edition. The annual format and expansion to 24 teams form part of FIFA’s efforts to create more opportunities for young players around the world.
With the opening match just around the corner, attention will turn to the next generation of stars as they compete for one of youth football’s biggest prizes.
Tournament dates: 17 October – 7 November 2026
Host country: Morocco
Teams: 24
Nigeria’s opening match: Poland vs Nigeria — 17 October