The official draw took place at the Hyatt Regency hotel in downtown Port of Spain on Wednesday 5 May, throwing up a number of intriguing match-ups for the group stages.
New Zealand will face a tough challenge against the top qualifier from UEFA, who is yet to be determined, but Dave Edmondson’s team may fancy their chances against Japan and Venezuela. Although Japan are likely to the stronger of the two with Asian teams typically strong at the age group level.
Group A is shaping up as the most competitive of the 16-team competition, which will run from 5 to 25 September, with the hosts, the holders and Chile and Nigeria squaring off.
The tournament – only the second world women’s finals in this age category after New Zealand hosted the inaugural event in 2008 – will take place in Arima/Malabar, Couva, Marabella, Port of Spain (Trinidad) and Scarborough (Tobago). The top two finishers from each group of four will move on to the quarter-finals.
The tournament will open with a clash between Trinidad and Tobago and Chile on 5 September at the Hasely Crawford stadium in Port of Spain.
The teams were drawn into the following groups:
Group A: Trinidad and Tobago, Chile, Nigeria, Korea DPR
Group B: UEFA 3, Mexico, CAF 3 (Tunisia or South Africa), Korea Republic
Group C: New Zealand, Venezuela, UEFA 1, Japan
Group D: UEFA 2, Brazil, Canada, Ghana