Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Amman: Jordan will take on Spain in the Hashemite Kingdom’s first ever match in a FIFA women’s final tournament after Monday’s draw for the group stage of the 2016 FIFA U-17 World Cup pitted the competition hosts against the 2014 runners-up.
A full house at the Amman International Stadium is expected for the historic match on September 30 when the Jordanians face the vastly experienced Spanish, who finished third at Trinidad & Tobago 2010 in their only other appearance in the U-17 Women’s World Cup finals.
After opening their Group A campaign against Spain, who have also won three of the six UEFA Women’s U-17 Championships they have contested, Jordan will take on 2014 quarter-finalists Mexico and then Oceania champions New Zealand, who have contested every edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup since hosting the inaugural tournament in 2008.
AFC U-16 Championship 2015 winners DPR Korea, the first-ever FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup champions and runners-up in 2012, have been handed a tough draw having been pooled in Group C alongside Nigeria, quarter-finalists at the last three tournaments, 2016 South American Under 17 Women’s Championship runners-up Brazil, and England, semi-finalists at the inaugural tournament who are returning to the competition for the first time since New Zealand 2008.
Defending champions Japan, who won the 2014 edition of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup following a 2-0 victory over Spain in Costa Rica, begin the defence of their title against fellow tournament ever-presents Ghana before facing Paraguay and then 2016 CONCACAF Women’s U-17 Championship winners USA.
FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup - Jordan 2016: Group Stage draw
Group A
A1 Jordan
A2 Spain
A3 Mexico
A4 New Zealand
30/09/16 Mexico v New Zealand Amman International Stadium, Amman
30/09/16 Jordan v Spain Amman International Stadium, Amman
03/10/16 Spain v New Zealand Al Hassan Stadium, Irbid
03/10/16 Jordan v Mexico Al Hassan Stadium, Irbid
07/10/16 New Zealand v Jordan Prince Mohammed Stadium, Zarqa
07/10/16 Spain v Mexico King Abdullah Stadium, Amman
Group B
B1 Venezuela
B2 Germany
B3 Cameroon
B4 Canada
30/09/16 Venezuela v Germany Al Hassan Stadium, Irbid
30/09/16 Cameroon v Canada Al Hassan Stadium, Irbid
03/10/16 Venezuela v Cameroon Amman International Stadium, Amman
03/10/16 Germany v Canada Amman International Stadium, Amman
07/10/16 Canada v Venezuela King Abdullah Stadium, Amman
07/10/16 Germany v Cameroon Prince Mohammed Stadium, Zarqa
Group C
C1 Nigeria
C2 Brazil
C3 England
C4 DPR Korea
01/10/16 Nigeria v Brazil King Abdullah Stadium, Amman
01/10/16 England v DPR Korea King Abdullah Stadium, Amman
04/10/16 Nigeria v England Prince Mohammed Stadium, Zarqa
04/10/16 Brazil v DPR Korea Prince Mohammed Stadium, Zarqa
08/10/16 DPR Korea v Nigeria Amman International Stadium, Amman
08/10/16 Brazil v England Al Hassan Stadium, Irbid
Group D
D1 USA
D2 Paraguay
D3 Ghana
D4 Japan
01/10/16 USA v Paraguay Prince Mohammed Stadium, Zarqa
01/10/16 Ghana v Japan Prince Mohammed Stadium, Zarqa
04/10/16 USA v Ghana King Abdullah Stadium, Amman
04/10/16 Paraguay v Japan King Abdullah Stadium, Amman
08/10/16 Japan v USA Amman International Stadium, Amman
08/10/16 Paraguay v Ghana Al Hassan Stadium, Irbid
The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, with matches held on October 12 at the Amman International Stadium and on October 13 at the Al Hassan Stadium in Irbid.
The victorious teams in the last eight advance to the semi-finals, both of which scheduled to take place on October 17 at the King Abdullah Stadium in Amman, with the final and third-place play-off taking place three days later as the action shifts back to the Amman International Stadium.
Photo: AFP