The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2026™ has seen a huge improvement in standards compared to one year ago and the level of goalkeeping has been particularly eye-catching, according to the FIFA Technical Study Group (TSG).

TSG specialists, led by former Switzerland goalkeeper and FIFA Senior Football Expert Pascal Zuberbühler, also emphasised that the competition, which is now being held annually, has a hugely beneficial impact on participants, exposing them to different styles of play and higher intensity at a young age.

“What has been fantastic to see at this FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup is how much the teams have developed and improved, even compared to just one year ago,” said Zuberbühler.

Tihana Nemčić Bojić, a TSG member and former Croatia international with a wide range of coaching experience, said that one of the differences was that teams were more prepared to take the initiative.

"What makes this tournament special for me is the attacking mentality we have seen across many teams. There has been a lot of attacking intent, creativity and willingness to take risks,” she said. “Many matches have been open, with changes in momentum and unexpected outcomes, which has made the tournament exciting and unpredictable. I think this also reflects the courage of young players to express themselves, take initiative and find solutions in different game situations."

TSG member Mo Marley, former coach at The Football Association, said the tournament confirmed that women’s football was continuing to develop in quality. “The women’s game is evolving rapidly in so many ways - a couple of areas that have been really good to watch here are seeing players really expressing themselves in 1v1’s, and overall there is more intention and intensity for teams’ forward play which is always exciting to watch,” she said.

With the tournament being held in Morocco for a second year running, organisers were able to build on last year’s experience to the benefit of the players. “Improvements in various operational details—such as the quality of the match venues, kick-off scheduling, and accommodation—have likely contributed to a higher standard of play,” said Asako Takemoto, a TSG member who played for Japan at two FIFA Women’s World Cup™ tournaments and later coached the team.

Zuberbühler said it was clear from the tournament that clubs and FIFA Member Associations (MAs) were working hard to develop goalkeepers in women’s football.

“Something that has impressed me personally even more is the incredible quality of goalkeepers from different nations. You can clearly see that there is a strategy behind their development. Goalkeepers are much more involved in the game, both in and out of possession. Their positioning, decision-making and understanding of when to protect the goal and when to protect the space have improved significantly,” he said.

An example of this was better use of the X-block. “Our analysis shows that it is being used less frequently, but with very good effectiveness when applied in the right situations,” he said. “For me, this is a fantastic indication of the work being done within clubs and FIFA Member Associations. It shows that more specialised goalkeeper coaches are working with these young players, developing their technical abilities, tactical understanding and decision-making.”

The decision to stage the tournament annually was to give more players from more countries the chance to enjoy an early taste of competitive football at international level.

“Playing against different associations and experiencing different playing styles and game challenges is the perfect development for young internationals. Competing in a (FIFA) World Cup will have a huge impact on players both on and off the pitch,” said Marley.

Takemoto added: “The (FIFA) U-17 Women’s World Cup serves as the first global stage for young, developing players. By competing against opponents from various nations, they encounter playing styles and levels of intensity they have never experienced before—a process that often leads to significant growth among both teams and individual players throughout the tournament.”

Bojić echoed those comments, saying: “(It is) also about gaining confidence, dealing with pressure and learning how to compete and behave at the highest level. I believe these experiences can have a significant impact on their future development, both as players and as individuals.”

“We have seen how important it is to connect individual technical ability with decision-making and collective understanding of the game. We have also seen the importance and changes in roles of certain playing positions,” she said. “If we can translate these observations into better training methods, then this tournament will not only benefit the players who are here today, but also the next generation.”