Germany and North Korea have qualified for the U-17 World Cup Round of 16 after winning their opening two group matches

Germany and North Korea have qualified for the U-17 World Cup Round of 16 after winning their opening two group matches at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

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Germany secured their place in the knockout stage on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, after defeating hosts Morocco 4-2, while North Korea produced an emphatic 6-1 victory over Poland.

The results left both teams with six points from two matches and guaranteed their progression from Groups A and B respectively.

Germany’s victory over Morocco was another impressive display from a side that has made a strong start to the tournament.

The Germans scored four times against the hosts and held on despite Morocco finding the net twice, securing the points needed to advance with a match still to play.

North Korea were even more emphatic in their second Group B fixture, overwhelming Poland 6-1 to establish themselves as the leading side in the section.

The result gave North Korea six points from two matches and a strong goal difference heading into their final group fixture.

For Nigeria, qualification remains possible but the pressure has increased following a mixed opening to the tournament.

The Nigerian team lost their first group match against Poland before responding with a 2-0 victory over Puerto Rico.

The victory kept Nigeria’s hopes alive, but the team will need a positive result in their final group match to strengthen their chances of reaching the knockout stage.

Argentina are in a similar position.

Argentina recovered from their opening result by defeating New Zealand 2-0, leaving them with a chance of progressing depending on the outcome of their final group fixture.

The tournament’s group stage is expected to produce further movement in the qualification picture as more teams complete their second and third matches.

Germany and North Korea, however, can already look ahead to the knockout phase after securing maximum points from their opening two games.

The early qualification also underlines the importance of strong starts in the expanded tournament, where teams have limited room for error during the group stage.

Nigeria will now have to focus on their final assignment and avoid the uncertainty that comes with relying heavily on other results.

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With the knockout places beginning to take shape, the remaining group matches promise a tense finish as teams battle for a place in the last 16.