The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Dominican Republic 2024™ will be just four days old by the time Matchday 3 gets under way on Saturday 19 October, but the tournament is already entering make-or-break stage.
Nigeria and Ecuador are looking to secure their spot in the last eight, as the pair of opening-day winners go head to head in Santiago de los Caballeros. New Zealand and Dominican Republic also do battle in Group A, with both knowing a loss will spell the end of their tournament. Elsewhere, Spain are looking to build on their win over USA against Korea Republic, while the North Americans will look to alight their campaign against Colombia.
GROUP A
Nigeria v Ecuador
CFC Stadium, Santiago de los Caballeros
Kick-off times
16:00: Santiago de los Caballeros
21:00: Lagos
15:00: Quito
The match
Nigeria opened their Dominican Republic 2024 campaign with a bang on Wednesday. They were 3-0 up against New Zealand by the 28th minute, before Player of the Match Taiwo Afolabi made it four just before the hour in a resounding 4-1 win. Ecuador, for their part, also started with a win, as a first-half Jaslym Valverde brace saw them oust the hosts. A win for either would punch their ticket to the knockout phase, while a draw would take matters to the final day.
Dominican Republic v New Zealand
Kick-off times
19:00: Santiago de los Caballeros
12:00 (Friday): Wellington
The match
From two sides looking to build on wins, to two looking to keep their tournament flames alive. The hosts were met by an ear-splitting atmosphere in their finals debut against Ecuador, but couldn’t match that intensity on the field. New Zealand, meanwhile, opened with a defeat for the eighth time in nine tournaments when they were put to the sword by Nigeria. Defeat for either side will see them eliminated, while a win would give their hopes of qualification a shot in the arm.
Group B
Spain v Korea Republic
Kick-off times
16:00: Santo Domingo
22:00: Madrid
05:00 (Friday): Seoul
The match
Spain started their assault on a third straight U-17 crown by defeating fellow title hopefuls USA last time out, and will be keen to assert their position atop Group B. Korea Republic also have their eyes on the the pool’s summit and know that, following a 1-1 draw with India 2022 runners-up Colombia, a win of their own could take them there.
Colombia v USA
Kick-off times
19:00: Santo Domingo
18:00: Bogota
19:00: Washington DC
Colombia will take pride from their draw with Korea Republic, and could enter their final day clash with Spain in the driving seat depending on the result earlier in the day. The Stars and Stripes, meanwhile, know that anything but a win puts their campaign in serious jeopardy of a fourth group-stage exit in five tournaments.
