From Touray to Chácon: six standouts from the Under-17 Women’s World Cup

The 2025 Under-17 Women’s World Cup is well under way in Morocco with Brazil, China, Canada and Spain among the countries who have reached the last 16. After an intriguing group stage here are some of the young stars who have stood out so far:

Giulia Galli (Italy): Italy have been one of the surprise packages of the tournament so far, spearheaded by the goals of Galli. The 17-year-old has enjoyed an eye-catching year for club and country: she was at the heart of her nation’s run to the semi-finals of this summer’s Under-17 European Championship, their highest finish in more than a decade that booked their spot at this World Cup. Since then, she has found herself in and around the Roma senior team, scoring her first goal for the club – the winner – in their Serie A Women’s Cup fixture against Milan. She has led the charge once again in Morocco as Selena Mazzantini’s side won all three group games to progress. All five goals to date have demonstrated her uncanny knack of breaking defensive lines as well as her instinctive clinical ability inside the box.

Giovanna Waksman (Brazil): Waksman is a familiar name for anyone closely attuned to Brazilian youth football. The 16-year-old is one of the most highly rated youngsters coming through the pathway and her natural skill and understanding of the game have shone throughout her youth career to date – at Botafogo and at high school in Florida – as has her goalscoring ability. She made her debut for Brazil’s Under-17s at the age of 14 before being named player of the tournament at the 2024 South American Championship and featuring in all their group games at last year’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic. With the qualities to play both as a forward and a No 10, the Rio de Janeiro player has impressed in Morocco despite Brazil’s stuttering run to the knockout stage. She has three goals to her name, scoring in their opening win over the hosts and notching two goals as captain in their 4-3 defeat to Italy. The Seleção will need her to be at her best when they face China next.

Giovanna Waksman celebrates scoring against Italy. Photograph: Charlotte Wilson/Fifa/Getty Images

Kim Won-sim (North Korea): Not much is known about North Korea on the senior world stage but their quality at youth level is undeniable. The current holders and three times world champions have comfortably made it through to the last 16 with three wins from three. Fifteen-year-old Kim has been at the heart of their success so far and embodies the characteristics that have made her nation so successful at this level. Working tirelessly from the front, she possesses an innate technical ability that was exemplified by her two goals in their win over Cameroon. She combines impressively with Ri Ui-gyong down the left and they linked up for both her near-post finishes. Her second, a fine flicked header, was particularly crucial, a 98th-minute winner to send her team through.

Carlota Chácon (Spain): Spain’s Chácon has been one of the breakout stars, scoring four goals in the group stages to help her side qualify for the knockouts with a game to spare. She was used sparingly in La Rojita’s disappointing showing at May’s Euros when they needed a playoff win against Austria to book their spot in this tournament. Under new coach Mila Martínez, however, the Real Sociedad forward has come to the fore with her goalscoring instinct inside the box and the strong relationships she is building with those around her. She also possesses strong aerial ability. Spain were denied their third World Cup title in a row last time out when they were beaten by North Korea in the final in the Dominican Republic. They will be looking to avenge that defeat but face a difficult encounter with France in the last 16.

Queen Joseph (Nigeria): Nigeria’s progress at this World Cup has been far from easy after defeats to Canada and France left them on the precipice of elimination. Their campaign was salvaged by a 4-0 victory in their final group game. At the heart of the Flamingos’ turnaround was Queen Joseph, whose player-of-the-match performance against Samoa featured two goals to take her tournament tally to three. Electric going forward, the 15-year-old can break through hesitant defensive lines while also being an instinctive finisher inside the box.

Nyanya Touray (USA): With the group stages completed, Touray is only one goal away from equalling the record scored by an American at an Under-17 Women’s World Cup. With four goals to date, the 17-year-old has continued her goalscoring form for her national team, having ended this summer’s Four Nations Tournament as top scorer. An instinctive finisher, the Florida State Seminoles forward has been crucial to the USA’s strong showing in Morocco. Katie Schoepfer’s side cruised through to the round of 16 scoring 13 and conceding two and will be favourites against the Netherlands to reach the quarter-finals. They are aiming to reach their first final since 2008 after picking up a bronze medal last year.

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