Flamingos face Poland in 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup opener

Nigeria’s Flamingos will begin their 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup campaign against Poland in Rabat on Saturday, October 17, 2026, aiming to open Group B with three points.

The match will be played at Pitch 4 of the Mohammed VI Football Complex, with Nigeria seeking a stronger run than in the previous edition of the competition. The Flamingos were knocked out in the Round of 16 last time after a 4-0 defeat by Italy.

Nigeria secured their place at the tournament after overcoming Guinea and Benin Republic during a demanding qualifying campaign. They also demonstrated their attacking threat by scoring freely on their way to qualification.

Poland return to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after missing the 2025 edition. Their most recent appearance came in 2024 in the Dominican Republic, where they reached the quarter-finals before being beaten by eventual champions Korea DPR.

Saturday’s fixture will be the first meeting between Nigeria and Poland at this level. The Flamingos will hope to mark the occasion with a victory as they begin their challenge in a group that also includes Puerto Rico and defending champions Korea DPR.

Nigeria, the 2022 bronze-medallists, will be targeting a deeper run this time, but a positive start will be important in a section containing the reigning champions.