U17 Women’s World Cup: Anticipation grows as Flamingos await group stage draw

By Oluwadamilola Olaleye

Anticipation is high as Nigeria’s U17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, brace for the draw ceremony of the 2024 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, set to take place today, Wednesday, June 4, in Rabat, Morocco.

This year’s tournament marks a historic expansion, with 24 nations set to compete for the title—an increase from the previous 16. It is the ninth edition of the competition since its launch in New Zealand 17 years ago.

The 24 qualified teams have been divided into four pots based on FIFA’s ranking system.

Host nation Morocco is automatically placed in Pot 1, alongside five top-ranked sides, including defending champions North Korea, reigning champions Spain, the USA, Japan, and Nigeria—who will be making their eighth appearance.

Pot Allocation:

• Pot 1: Morocco, Spain, Japan, North Korea, USA, Nigeria

• Pot 2: Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Canada, New Zealand, Ecuador

• Pot 3: China, Cameroon, South Korea, Italy, France, Zambia

• Pot 4: Paraguay, Costa Rica, Netherlands, Norway, Côte d’Ivoire, Samoa

The Flamingos, who claimed a historic third-place finish at the 2022 edition in India, will be aiming to go even further this time. The 2024 tournament will be held from October 17 to November 8 across cities in Morocco.

With the draw set to determine the path for each team, all eyes will be on the Flamingos as they prepare to build on their growing legacy on the global stage.