2026 U-17 WWC: Japan Determined To Make History Against Flamingos –Shirai

Japan U-17 women’s head coach Sadayoshi Shirai says his team are determined to make history by lifting their maiden title at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

The Japanese side will face Nigeria in the final on Saturday at Pitch 3 of the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, Morocco.

The encounter will mark the first-ever meeting between both nations in the history of the competition, with each team chasing a historic maiden triumph.

Read Also:2026 U-17 WWC: Tinubu Hails Flamingos Over Historic Qualification For Final

Japan have been impressive throughout the tournament, winning all three of their group-stage matches to become the only team to achieve a perfect record in the opening round.

Shirai Sets Trophy Target

However, Shirai insists his players are not satisfied with their progress so far and are determined to go one step further by claiming the trophy.

“We don’t want to stop here. We’ll continue moving forward, prepare as well as we can for the final, and give everything we have to become world champions,” Shirai told FIFA.

By Adeboye Amosu

Adeboye Amosu is a seasoned sports journalist and Senior Content Writer with extensive experience covering Nigerian football and international football. He specializes in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), provides insightful coverage, match reports, news, and analysis of the domestic game. Adeboye also follows the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Chelsea, bringing his knowledge of the teams, players, and competitions to his writing.