Tournament hosts and Papua New Guinea 2016 runners-up France start out as favourites in a pool also featuring the Netherlands, with whom they crossed swords at the 2017 UEFA Women’s U-19 Championship. Completing the Group A line-up are Ghana and New Zealand.

The teams: France | Ghana | New Zealand | The Netherlands |

The big match France-The Netherlands This enticing encounter in Saint-Malo on 12 August comes almost a year to the day after the two nations met in the group phase at the 2017 UEFA Women’s U-19 Championship, a match the Dutch won. The French will be keen to avenge that defeat here.

Did you know? France, Ghana and New Zealand were drawn together in the same group at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Papua New Guinea 2016. The French advanced to the quarter-finals on that occasion, while the Ghanaians and New Zealanders went out.

The stat 1 The Netherlands are making their U-20 Women’s World Cup debut at France 2018. New Zealand will provide the opposition in their opening match, in Vannes on 5 August.

What they said “It looks like a kind draw for us, but we have to go out and prove on the pitch that we’re better than the rest and win matches to advance to the quarter-finals. That’s our first objective.” France coach Gilles Eyquem

“It’s an interesting group and judging by the teams who are in it – starting with France – it’s going to be tight. We’ll be playing the French in our opening match. They’re the hosts and they’ll have the support of their fans. It’s going to be a tough game and we’ll make sure we get our preparations right for it.” Ghana coach Yusif Basigi

“There are no easy groups, but I’m delighted that we’re taking on the tournament hosts. It’s going to be exciting.” New Zealand coach Gareth Turnbull