According to a report by TV3Gh, on Thursday October 29, 2026, Morocco’s Under-17 women’s national team have been eliminated from the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after suffering a heavy 6-0 defeat to defending champions North Korea in the Round of 16.

The disappointing result, recorded on Wednesday, October 28, brought the host nation’s campaign to an abrupt end, leaving the young Moroccan players with a difficult conclusion to their home tournament.

North Korea, meanwhile, secured their place in the quarter-finals and kept their hopes of retaining the title firmly alive.

The encounter took place at Pitch 2 of the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé, where the Asian side demonstrated their attacking quality and tactical superiority against a Moroccan team that struggled to contain their opponents throughout much of the contest.

Morocco entered the knockout stage hoping to make further progress in front of their home supporters. However, the defending champions proved too strong, taking control of the game early and establishing a commanding advantage before the interval.

North Korea’s dominant display underlined their status as one of the leading contenders for the championship, while Morocco were left to reflect on a tournament that offered valuable international experience but ended in a painful defeat.

The defending champions wasted little time asserting themselves, putting Morocco under pressure from the opening minutes and repeatedly exploiting gaps in the hosts’ defence.

Yu Jong Hyang opened the scoring in the sixth minute, giving North Korea an early advantage and placing the Moroccan players under immediate pressure.

Kim Won Sim subsequently extended the lead in the 33rd minute before Yu Jong Hyang struck again in the 40th minute. Kim Won Sim added another goal in the 41st minute, completing a devastating first-half performance that left Morocco trailing 4-0 at the break.

The four-goal deficit left the hosts facing an enormous challenge after the restart. Morocco needed a dramatic turnaround to remain in the competition, but North Korea’s organisation and attacking threat made a comeback increasingly difficult.

The Moroccan players attempted to respond after the interval, seeking opportunities to reduce the deficit and restore some confidence. However, their efforts failed to significantly change the course of the match.

North Korea maintained their control and continued to create opportunities, ensuring that Morocco had little chance of recovering from the damage inflicted during the opening half.

North Korea continued their dominance in the second half, refusing to ease the pressure despite holding a substantial lead. Their persistence paid off when Ri Ui Gyong scored the fifth goal before Ri Kyong Im added another to complete the 6-0 victory.

The additional goals confirmed Morocco’s elimination and sent the defending champions into the quarter-finals, where they will continue their pursuit of another world title.

North Korea had entered the knockout stage in impressive form after finishing top of Group B with nine points. Their performance against Morocco further demonstrated the quality and consistency that have made them one of the tournament’s strongest teams.

For Morocco, the scale of the defeat was particularly disappointing given the advantage of playing on home soil. The team had hoped to use the support of local fans to inspire a memorable run, but they were unable to match the pace, precision and finishing ability of their opponents.

Despite the disappointing exit, Morocco’s qualification for the Round of 16 represented an opportunity for the young players to test themselves against some of the best emerging talents in international women’s football.

The Atlas Lionesses advanced as one of the four best third-placed teams after finishing their Group A campaign with three points. They began the tournament positively with a commanding 4-0 victory over New Zealand but subsequently suffered defeats against Germany and Argentina.

Germany defeated Morocco 4-2, while Argentina recorded a 5-1 victory in their final group fixture. Those results left the host nation relying on the performances of other teams to secure a place in the knockout rounds, a qualification they ultimately achieved.

Progressing to the last 16 gave Morocco an opportunity to extend their participation in the competition and gain further experience on the international stage.

However, their meeting with North Korea exposed the challenges that remain as the country continues to develop its youth women’s football programme.

The heavy loss will likely prompt renewed attention to defensive organisation, tactical preparation and the experience required to compete against established youth football powers.

Nevertheless, competing in a global tournament provides young players with valuable lessons that can contribute to their future development.

Morocco will now hope to build on the experience gained during the competition and strengthen their preparations for future international assignments.

While Morocco’s campaign has ended, North Korea remain firmly in contention for the trophy. Their convincing victory over the hosts has strengthened their position as they progress into the quarter-finals.

The defending champions will now turn their attention to the next stage, where they will seek to maintain their momentum and move closer to another FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup crown. R16:

For Morocco, the focus shifts to reviewing their performances, addressing weaknesses and ensuring that the lessons from the tournament contribute to the long-term growth of women’s football in the country.

The 6-0 defeat will undoubtedly be a difficult result for the young players and their supporters to accept. However, their participation in the knockout stage offers a foundation on which the team can continue to build as it seeks greater success in future competitions.