Defending Champions Korea DPR Crush Hosts Morocco as Four Reach U-17 Women's World Cup Quarter-Finals

The first four quarter-finalists at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup are confirmed after Wednesday's Round of 16 ties in Salé, Morocco, and the defending champions delivered the statement result of the day. Korea DPR, winners of the last edition, overwhelmed the host nation Morocco 6-0, ending the home crowd's hopes in emphatic fashion and underlining why they arrived in Morocco as the team to beat. Venezuela produced the upset of the round, edging Group A winners Germany 1-0 thanks to a first-half goal that held up against sustained late pressure. Ghana needed penalties to get past Argentina after a 1-1 draw, holding their nerve to win the shootout 5-4, while Brazil survived a thriller against Poland, drawing 3-3 before winning 8-7 on penalties in one of the longest shootouts of the tournament so far. The remaining Round of 16 ties take place on Thursday, with Nigeria facing Mexico, China meeting France, and Spain taking on the United States among the fixtures that will complete the last-eight line-up. The quarter-finals are scheduled for Sunday, November 1, when Korea DPR, Venezuela, Ghana and Brazil will learn whether their contrasting routes through the first knockout round — a rout, an upset and two shootout escapes — can carry them one step closer to the trophy.