Debutants Netherlands Set for Showdown with Holders Korea DPR in U-17 World Cup Final
A solitary second-half strike from Lina Touzani was the golden ticket for the Netherlands, as the debutant European champions edged a fiercely contested semi-final against Mexico 1-0 to secure their place in the final of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2025™.1
The dramatic victory means the Oranje Leeuwinnen will now face the tournament’s reigning champions, Korea DPR, in Saturday’s final—a daunting rematch of a group stage fixture where the Asian powerhouse delivered a resounding 5-0 defeat to the Dutch.2
The Decisive Moment
In a tightly fought semi-final at the Olympic Stadium of Rabat, the Netherlands started brightly and came closest to an early lead when Tess Van der Vliet’s powerful shot rattled the crossbar, deflecting away after hitting the back of Mexico goalkeeper Valentina Murrieta. Mexico, for their part, defended resolutely, with Joselyn Solis missing their clearest chance just before the break.
The breakthrough arrived in the second half through a moment of precision football. Midfielder Anne Gelevert unlocked the Mexican defense with a surgical pass into the box, finding the run of Lina Touzani. The forward controlled the ball and swept a left-footed shot past Murrieta to ignite the Dutch celebrations.
“I can’t describe how I feel, I’m so happy, it’s unbelievable! It’s the first time for the Netherlands that we reach the final, world championship,” beamed captain and Player of the Match, Rosalie Renfurm. Match-winner Touzani, equally thrilled, noted: “I just stopped, just thought I’d shoot and if it goes in, then it goes in… but I’m very happy that it went in.”
Mexico mounted a furious late charge for an equalizer, which culminated in a long-range effort smashing the crossbar in the dying moments, but the Netherlands managed to hold firm to see out their historic victory.
A Testament to Spirit
For the Netherlands, reaching the final in their inaugural appearance at the U-17 Women’s World Cup marks them as the first team other than the champions of the first-ever edition to achieve this feat. The European champions’ journey has been defined by late drama, including two consecutive knockout-round victories via penalty shootouts against the USA and France leading up to this semi-final.3
Coach Olivier Amelink praised his team’s relentless spirit. “I feel fantastic, just fantastic. First the European Championship last summer and now to the last two of the world. I’m very excited and proud that I’m coach of a team like this. It’s a pleasure.”
The Mexican camp was left heartbroken but defiant, focusing on their overall performance and the battle for bronze. Defender Leila Avila expressed pride in her team’s effort: “We all pushed all the way to the end… We fought all the way to the end. There’s nothing more I could ask for.” Head coach Miguel Gamero echoed this sentiment, stating: “We still have one more game, and we’ll go for third place. Our players deserve more, but right now we have to accept the loss.”
Final Showdown
The Netherlands now faces their toughest challenge yet on Saturday, November 8, against the three-time champions Korea DPR, who secured their final spot by defeating Brazil. It will be an opportunity for the Dutch debutants to not only claim their first-ever World Cup title but also avenge the heavy loss they suffered just two weeks prior.
You can watch highlights from the decisive group stage encounter between the two finalists in this video: Netherlands vs Korea DPR Highlights.
