According to a report by Daily Post on Thursday October 22, 2026, Japan, Germany and North Korea have become the first three countries to qualify for the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup after winning their opening two group-stage matches.

Japan secured their place in the knockout stage with an impressive 2-0 victory over France on Wednesday in Rabat.

Mei Hanashiro was the star of the encounter, scoring twice to guide Japan to all three points and confirm their progression to the next round.

The victory means Japan join Germany and North Korea, who had already secured qualification after collecting six points from their first two matches.

All three nations have made strong starts to the tournament, demonstrating their determination to compete for the title.

Japan's win over France was particularly significant, as it highlighted their ability to perform against strong opposition. Hanashiro's brace also underlined her importance to the team's attacking threat as the competition progresses.

Meanwhile, several teams were scheduled to continue their group-stage campaigns on Thursday, with Spain facing Australia and the United States taking on Kenya.

China were also set to meet Samoa, while Mexico were due to face Chile as the battle for knockout-stage places continued.

With more teams hoping to join the early qualifiers, the upcoming fixtures are expected to play an important role in shaping the Round of 16 lineup.

Japan, Germany and North Korea will now look to maintain their momentum as they prepare for the challenges of the knockout stage, where every match could prove decisive in their pursuit of the trophy.