The lineup for the 2026 Under-17 FIFA Women World Cup has been completed with Zambia pitted in Group D alongside Japan, France and Venezuela.
Coach Carol Kanyemba’s Copper Princesses will renew their rivalry with Japan with whom they faced in 2024 at the Dominican Republican tournament and 2025 in Morocco with the Japanese emerging 4-1 winners and 2-0 victors respectively.
The other group members are France and Venezuela.
Zambia will open its account on 18 October at the Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium (Pitch 2) against Japan before facing France four days later Pitch 4. The final group game will be against Venezuela on Independence on Pitch 4 of the same facility.
Top two teams in each group will automatically qualify to the round of 16 in the 24-team tournament while four slots will go to the best third placed teams.
Zambia has qualified for three consecutive FIFA World Cups at under-17 level adding to the nation’s four-time record appearances. The Copper Princesses overcame Ethiopia 3-2 on aggregate to clinch their ticket to the world cup.
