Why Japan lost U-17 World Cup final to Nigeria - Coach

Japan's U-17 women's national team coach, Sadayoshi Shirai, attributed their 2-1 loss to Nigeria in the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup final to the opponents' superior speed and physical power. Despite the defeat, Shirai praised his team's resilience and fighting spirit throughout the tournament.
Why it matters
This victory marks a historic milestone as Nigeria becomes the first African nation to win the U-17 Women's World Cup title.
Add us to your Preferred Sources Why Japan lost U-17 World Cup final to Nigeria — Coach Sports November 8, 2026 11:05 am Japan coach Sadayoshi Shirai. CREDIT: FIFA
Also covering this story
One other newsroom covered this event. We read that version too.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in