Fans cheer during one of the U-17 Women’s World Cup matches in Morocco, with stadium banners highlighting the WHO–FIFA ‘Be Active’ campaign encouraging people everywhere to embrace physical activity and healthy lifestyles through the power of sport. Copyright: WHO Morocco
13 November 2025, Rabat, Morocco – The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2025 was the first FIFA women’s youth tournament to be held in Africa. Hosted by Morocco from 17 October to 8 November, it attracted 72 762 spectators across 52 matches, celebrating the power of sport to inspire, unite and uplift communities – especially young girls.
Under FIFA’s new multi-year hosting model, Morocco will host the annual tournament until 2029. The matches, which showcased the country’s commitment to advancing women’s football and youth engagement, were held in the Rabat-Salé metropolitan area.
FIFA promoted the tournament as a celebration of joy and inclusion, bringing happiness to millions of young people and inspiring future generations beyond the pitch. Thanks to the collaboration between FIFA and the World Health Organization (WHO), the event also served as a platform for health promotion.
Through the Be Active initiative, WHO leveraged the global visibility of the tournament to promote physical activity, mental well-being and healthy lifestyles. The campaign encourages children, families and communities to embrace movement as a foundation for lifelong health.
WHO engagement built on WHO FIFA joint initiative and activities held during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar where teams worked alongside local partners to organize community engagement activities, including fitness challenges, educational booths and youth-led health dialogues, efforts that aimed to raise awareness about the importance of regular physical activity in preventing noncommunicable diseases and improving mental health.
The Be Active initiative highlights the role of girls’ participation in sport as a driver of empowerment, resilience and social inclusion. By promoting equal access to physical activity, WHO and FIFA are helping to build healthier, more equitable societies.
The legacy of the U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco extends far beyond football. It is a testament to the power of sport to promote health, inspire change and create opportunities for young people – especially girls – to thrive.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea were the defending champions, having won a record third title in 2024. They successfully retained the title, beating first-time finalists the Netherlands.
