North Korea just won’t quit. Honestly, watching them dismantle the bracket in the latest FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup standings felt like a glitch in the matrix for everyone else. They didn't just win; they basically owned the pitch from the first whistle in the group stages all the way to that nail-biting penalty shootout against Spain. If you’ve been following youth soccer lately, you know things are changing fast, especially with FIFA shifting to an annual format and expanding the field.
It’s a lot to keep track of.
One day you're looking at a 16-team tournament in the Dominican Republic, and the next, we're talking about a 24-team powerhouse event in Morocco. The 2024 and 2025 cycles have completely flipped the script on who we think the "big" teams are. While the old guard like Spain and the USA are still hanging around the top of the table, the gap is closing. Or, in North Korea's case, the gap is widening in their favor.
The 2024 Shakeup: Dominican Republic Results
The final 2024 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup standings told a story of Asian dominance and European heartbreak. North Korea—or Korea DPR if you're being official—secured their third title, which is actually a record. They beat Spain 4–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw. Spain was the two-time defending champion, so seeing them fall was a massive deal.
The US finally got back on the podium too. They took down England 3–0 in the third-place match. It’s been a minute since the American U-17s looked that sharp.
Group Stage Breakdown
The group stage was where the real drama lived. Nigeria was a force of nature in Group A, finishing with a perfect 9 points and a +8 goal difference. They looked untouchable until the knockout rounds.
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- Group A: Nigeria dominated, while Ecuador surprised everyone by taking the second spot. The hosts, Dominican Republic, managed a draw against New Zealand but couldn't move past the opening round.
- Group B: This was the "Group of Death" everyone feared. Spain and the USA advanced, but it wasn't easy. Colombia and South Korea both struggled to find a rhythm, finishing with just one point each.
- Group C: North Korea started their rampage here. 9 points. Zero doubts. England followed them into the knockouts, while Kenya and Mexico headed home.
- Group D: Japan showed why they are always a threat, topping the group. Poland, making their debut, actually held their own and grabbed the second seed over Brazil. That was probably the biggest shock of the early standings.
Why the 2025 Standings Look Different
Now, things are getting weird—in a good way. Starting in 2025, the tournament moved to Morocco. And it's every year now. Not every two years. FIFA decided that 16 teams weren't enough, so they bumped it to 24.
This change completely alters how the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup standings are calculated. With six groups instead of four, the path to the trophy is longer. You’ve got more "Cinderella" stories. In 2025, we saw teams like Samoa making their first-ever appearance.
North Korea stayed on top, though. They bagged their fourth title in 2025 by beating the Netherlands in the final. It’s getting a bit ridiculous how good their development program is. Mexico also made a massive leap, finishing third, while Brazil took fourth.
The Names You Need to Know
You can't talk about standings without the players who put the numbers on the board. In 2024, Jon Il-chong from North Korea won the Golden Ball. She’s a winger who plays like she has three lungs. Spain's Pau Comendador took the Golden Boot with 5 goals.
Then you have Evan O'Steen, the US goalkeeper. She was a literal wall. Even though the US finished third in 2024, she walked away with the Golden Glove. In the 2025 cycle, we saw a lot of those same names transitioning into the U-20 ranks, but the fresh talent coming out of Japan and the Netherlands is keeping the standings volatile.
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Award Winners that Define the Rankings
- Golden Ball (Best Player): Jon Il-chong (Korea DPR, 2024). Her vision is basically cheat-code level.
- Golden Boot (Top Scorer): Pau Comendador (Spain, 2024). She scored in the quarter-final and the semi-final. Clutch.
- Golden Glove (Best Keeper): Evan O'Steen (USA, 2024). She didn't even start the first game but ended up the best in the world.
- Fair Play: Nigeria took this in 2024, which is a nice consolation after a tough exit.
Morocco: The New Permanent Home?
It's sort of wild, but Morocco is hosting the next five editions. From 2025 to 2029, every single FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup standings update will come from North Africa. FIFA says it's about "efficiency" and "infrastructure," but it also gives a huge advantage to African nations who are trying to break the Asian and European stranglehold on the trophy.
We’re seeing more investment in the CAF (African) region because of this. Nigeria, Kenya, and Zambia are no longer just "happy to be there." They are physically outmatching teams, even if the tactical side is still catching up to the likes of Japan or Spain.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Standings
People usually look at the final table and think it's all about the goals. It’s not. In youth tournaments, the "standings" are often a lie because of how much growth happens in three weeks.
A team like Poland might finish lower in the overall rank but show a defensive structure that professional scouts value more than a team that just runs fast. Also, the expansion to 24 teams means that "third-place" finishers in the group stage can sometimes advance to the Round of 16. That’s a total game-changer. You can lose two games and still theoretically win the World Cup.
How to Track Live Standings in 2026 and Beyond
If you're trying to stay updated, the old ways don't really work because the tournament moves so fast now.
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- Follow the AFC and UEFA Qualifiers: The standings in the World Cup are usually decided months earlier during the continental championships. If North Korea or Spain dominates their region, they’re almost guaranteed a top-four spot in the World Cup.
- Watch the "Best Third" Rankings: With 24 teams, the four best third-placed teams across all groups move on. This is where the most movement happens in the live standings during the final day of the group stage.
- Check FIFA+: Honestly, their live app is the only place that updates the goal differences in real-time. Twitter (X) is too slow and usually full of spoilers.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Scouts
If you're following the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup standings for more than just fun—maybe you're a scout or a die-hard stats nerd—focus on the "Expected Goals" (xG) rather than just the final score.
Teams like Japan often have massive xG but lower actual scores because of the age-level finishing variance. Conversely, North Korea is incredibly efficient; they don't need many chances to bury a game.
Watch the 2026 qualifiers closely. Since the tournament is annual now, there is no "off-year." The momentum from 2025 in Morocco is going to carry straight into the next cycle. Keep an eye on the Netherlands and Mexico—they are currently the two programs showing the most vertical growth in the global rankings.
For those looking to dive deeper, start by comparing the goal distributions between the AFC and CONCACAF teams in the last two years. You'll notice the Asian teams are scoring more from open play, while the North Americans are relying heavily on set pieces and individual brilliance from players like Kennedy Fuller. Tracking these micro-trends is how you actually predict who will be sitting at the top of the table next November.