By Vincent Obi
Santo Domingo – The field is set. The line-up for the eighth FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup includes four of the five former champions – France failed to qualify – and four debutants from four continents.
Ahead of the draw for the tournament, which will kick off on 16 October in the Dominican Republic, FIFA delivers information on the 16 sides.
Brazil
Coach: Simone Jatoba
Qualification: Won the South American Under-17 Women’s Championship
Participations: Six
Best finish: Quarter-finals (2010, 2012, 2022)
Colombia
Coach: Carlos Paniagua
Qualification: Finished second at the South American U-17 Women’s Championship
Participations: Five
Best finish: Runners-up (2022)
Dominican Republic
Coach: Betzaida Ubri
Qualification: Host nation
Participations: None
Best finish: Nil
Ecuador
Coach: Eduardo Moscoso
Qualification: Finished third at the South American U-17 Women’s Championship
Participations: None
Best finish: Nil
England
Coach: Natalie Henderson
Qualification: Finished runners-up at the UEFA U-17 Women’s Championship
Participations: Two
Best finish: Fourth (2008)
Japan
Coach: Sadayoshi Sirai
Qualification: Finished runners-up at the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup
Participations: Seven
Best finish: Champions (2014)
Kenya
Coach: Mildred Cheche
Qualification: Beat Burundi in their CAF play-off
Participation: None
Best finish: Nil
Korea DPR (North)
Coach: Sung-Gwon Song
Qualification: Won the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup
Participations: Six
Best finish: Champions (2008, 2016)
Korea Republic (South)
Coach: Eunjung Kim
Qualification: Finished third at the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup
Participations: Three
Best finish: Champions (2010)
Mexico
Coach: : Jimena Rojas
Qualification: Finished runners-up at the Concacaf Women’s U-17 Championship
Participations: Six
Best finish: Runners-up (2018)
New Zealand
Coach: Natalie Lawrence
Qualification: Won the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship
Participations: Seven
Best finish: Third place (2018)
Nigeria
Coach: Bankole Olowookere
Qualification: Beat Liberia in their CAF play-off
Participations: Six
Best finish: Third place (2022)
Poland
Coach: Marcin Kasprowicz
Qualification: Finished third at the UEFA U-17 Women’s Championship
Participations: None
Best finish: Nil
Spain
Coach: Kenio Gonzalo
Qualification: Won the UEFA U-17 Women’s Championship
Participations: Five
Best finish: Champions (2018, 2022)
USA
Coach: Katie Schoepfer
Qualification: Won the Concacaf Women’s U-17 Championship
Participations: Five
Best finish: Runners-up (2008)
Zambia
Coach: Carol Kanyemba
Qualification: Beat Morocco in their CAF play-off
Participations: One
Best finish: Group stage (2014).
