U-17 Women’s World Cup in Rabat-Salé: USA Opens 19 October

EXPATS & NOMADS · RABAT

Morocco hosts the world’s best under-17 women’s teams for three weeks from 17 October, and the United States opens its campaign two days later. A day pass costs about two dollars.

The U-17 Women’s World Cup Rabat 2026 edition, officially the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026, runs from Saturday 17 October to Saturday 7 November. Twenty-four national teams will play 52 matches, 50 of them at a purpose-built women’s football complex in Salé, the twin city of Rabat across the Bou Regreg river. The US Under-17 Women’s National Team plays Samoa on Monday 19 October, Kenya on Thursday 22 October and China PR on Sunday 25 October, each at 6pm local time, which is 1pm Eastern.

For an American visitor, this is one of the cheapest ways to watch a FIFA world championship in person. Tickets start at MAD 20 (about US$2.03 at the 2 October rate) for a day pass, US citizens need no visa for a short stay, and Rabat is a calm, walkable capital about an hour by train from Casablanca, where most transatlantic flights land. Parents and club coaches following a player on the roster can plan the whole group stage around a single base in Rabat.

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What the Tournament Is and Why It Matters

The U-17 Women’s World Cup is FIFA’s youngest women’s world championship and the stage where many future senior internationals are first noticed. Since 2025 it has been held every year with 24 teams instead of 16, and Morocco was chosen to host five consecutive editions from 2025 to 2029. This is the second of them, so the venue, the organisers and much of the city’s match-day routine have already been tested once.

The 24 teams are split into six groups of four. The top two in each group and the four best third-placed teams reach the Round of 16, after which the tournament is straight knockout. The semi-finals are scheduled for Wednesday 4 November and the final for Saturday 7 November at Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, which also stages the third-place match at 15:00 that day. The final kicks off at 18:30 local time, which is 12:30pm ET once US clocks have gone back.

Korea DPR are the reigning champions. They beat the Netherlands in the 2025 final to win a record fourth title, and open their defence against Puerto Rico in Group B. Hosts Morocco, who reached the Round of 16 on home soil last year, play in Group A with New Zealand, Germany and Argentina. Brazil, Canada, Japan, France, Spain and Mexico are also in the field, as are African sides Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia and Kenya.

The USA Schedule and Roster

US Soccer confirmed the group schedule when head coach Ciara Crinion named her 21-player roster on 24 September, and FIFA’s match schedule lists the same fixtures. All three USA matches in Group E are at Pitch 3 of the Women’s Football Complex in Salé:

• Monday 19 October: USA v Samoa, 18:00 local, 1pm ET.
• Thursday 22 October: USA v Kenya, 18:00 local, 1pm ET.
• Sunday 25 October: USA v China PR, 18:00 local, 1pm ET.

US Soccer’s roster release names Kenya for both the 22 and the 25 October games, which is a slip in the text: FIFA’s official match schedule lists China PR v USA on Sunday 25 October at Pitch 3, while Kenya play Samoa at the same time on Pitch 4.

The squad is young even by the standards of this age group. Dallas Trinity FC defender Meila Brewer is the only professional, while Mia Corona (UCLA), Amari Manning and Deus Stanislaus (both North Carolina) already play college soccer. Forward Maddie DiMaria of St. Louis Scott Gallagher is both the most capped player and the top scorer on the roster, with 12 goals in 18 under-17 internationals, while New York City FC midfielder Loradana Paletta, born in 2011, is the youngest. Most of the others come from US youth clubs in California, Texas, New Jersey, Washington, Illinois and Florida.

If the USA advances, the Round of 16 (Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 October), the quarter-finals (Sunday 1 November) and the semi-finals (Wednesday 4 November) are all played at the same complex, so families can keep the same hotel. Which slot and pitch the USA would get depends on where it finishes in the group.

Tickets and Day Passes

FIFA sells tickets through FIFA.com/tickets, which links to Webook.com, the platform run by the Moroccan organising committee. A presale for Visa cardholders has closed and general sales are open. Prices are set in Moroccan dirhams and include taxes. The opening-day pass for Saturday 17 October is listed at MAD 20 (about US$2.03) and covers the four matches played that day across the complex’s pitches, including Morocco against New Zealand at 18:00.

Because the group stage is played on four pitches side by side, one ticket can mean two or more matches in an afternoon: on group days, two games start at 15:00 and two at 18:00. Seats on each pitch are allocated first come, first served, so arrive early for the USA games if you want to sit together. Visa is FIFA’s payment partner and the preferred card for purchases. US buyers paying in dirhams should check whether their bank adds a foreign transaction fee, although on a ticket this cheap the fee will be cents.

Buy only through FIFA.com/tickets or Webook.com. Tickets for the final and the third-place match at Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium may be priced differently from group-stage passes.

The Venue and How to Get There

The Women’s Football Complex is in Salé, on the north side of the Bou Regreg river opposite Rabat. It has four pitches and hosts every match from the group stage to the semi-finals, which the organisers describe as a festival format: spectators can move between pitches and watch several games in one visit. The final moves to Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat.

Most US travellers will land at Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca, Morocco’s main long-haul gateway, which Royal Air Maroc links nonstop with New York. From Casablanca, trains run regularly to Rabat in about an hour. Rabat-Salé Airport, closer to the venue, has flights from European hubs. Inside the city, the tram links Rabat and Salé, and the blue petits taxis are cheap; agree that the meter is running before you set off. For a broader look at the city’s autumn calendar, see Visa For Music Rabat Returns for 13th Edition, 18 to 21 November.

Tips for US and Foreign Visitors

Entry. The US State Department says US citizens do not need a visa for stays of less than 90 days. Its Morocco page lists six months of passport validity at the time of entry and one blank page for the entry stamp. Overstaying the 90 days means appearing before a judge before departure, so plan longer trips carefully.

Safety. Morocco carries a Level 2 “exercise increased caution” advisory, reissued on 21 April 2025, because of the risk of terrorism, with tourist sites, transport hubs and markets named as possible targets. The State Department suggests staying alert in tourist areas, avoiding demonstrations and enrolling in its STEP alert programme. Note that the US Embassy in Rabat does not offer consular services; US citizens needing help should contact the Consulate General in Casablanca.

Money. Dirhams cannot be taken out of Morocco, so change or withdraw only what you need and spend the rest before you fly. Amounts above MAD 100,000 or US$10,000 must be declared on arrival. Cards are widely accepted in hotels and larger shops, but carry cash for taxis, cafés and small purchases.

Time and weather. Morocco runs one hour ahead of GMT. That makes it five hours ahead of US Eastern time during the group stage, and six hours ahead after US clocks go back on 1 November, which matters for anyone following the final on 7 November from home. Late October in Rabat is usually mild, with daytime highs in the low 20s Celsius (low 70s Fahrenheit) and cooler evenings near the ocean, so bring a light layer for the 18:00 games.

Longer stays. Expats or nomads planning to stay on after the tournament can read Morocco Host Gabon in Rabat on 25 September in Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying for an idea of how big football nights run in the capital.

What Is Not Confirmed Yet

Day-pass prices for 19, 22 and 25 October could not be opened on Webook.com at the time of writing; the organisers and Moroccan media say tickets start at MAD 20 (about US$2), but individual match-day prices may differ. Prices for the semi-finals and final, gate opening times, bag rules, shuttle or parking arrangements at the complex, and which Round of 16 match each group finisher will play have not yet been published. This guide will be updated when they are announced.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the USA play at the 2026 U-17 Women’s World Cup?

The USA plays Samoa on Monday 19 October, Kenya on Thursday 22 October and China PR on Sunday 25 October 2026, all at 6pm local time (1pm ET) at the Women’s Football Complex in Salé, next to Rabat.

How much are tickets for the U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco?

Group-stage day passes start at MAD 20 (about US$2) per person and cover several matches at the complex. Tickets are sold through FIFA.com/tickets and the organisers’ platform Webook.com.

Do US citizens need a visa for Morocco?

No visa is needed for stays of less than 90 days, according to the US State Department. Your passport should be valid for six months on arrival and have one blank page for the entry stamp.

Sources: FIFA.com, FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026 match schedule; US Soccer, U-17 WNT World Cup roster and schedule release of 24 September 2026 (ussoccer.com); Webook.com, official ticket page and ticket terms for FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026; Express TV; Le360 Sport; Machahid24; Morocco World News; 3rd Degree; US State Department, Morocco country information and travel advisory (travel.state.gov).

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief