The eighth edition of the CONMBEOL Campeonato Sudamericano Femenino Sub-17 took place in Paraguay in March with all ten members of the confederation sending their teams to compete. The tournament featured the familiar format of two groups of five teams each, with the top two from each group moving on to the final stage.
In Group A, hosts Paraguay started the tournament strong with a 3-1 win over Uruguay and remained unbeaten throughout the group stage. They were joined in the final stage by Ecuador, who finished second after defeating Chile and Uruguay. Bolivia finished last in the group, scoring just one goal and suffering heavy defeats.
In Group B, Brazil, the clear favorites, finished first after a final day win over Colombia. Colombia gave them a tough challenge and finished second in the group. Argentina, Peru, and Venezuela struggled in the group stage, only managing to accumulate nine points between them.
The final stage of the tournament saw Brazil dominate with a hat-trick from Giovanna Waksman in a 4-0 win over Ecuador. Colombia held Brazil to a 2-2 draw but ultimately fell short, finishing third in the final stage. Brazil secured the title with a 5-1 win over Paraguay on the final day.
The victory meant Brazil, Colombia, and Ecuador qualified for the U17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic later in the year. Paraguay finished last in the final stage, missing out on qualification. The tournament showcased the talent of young female footballers in South America and set the stage for the teams to represent CONMEBOL on the world stage.
The Sudamericano Femenino Sub-17 provided an exciting display of women’s football in South America, with Brazil emerging as the champions. The tournament format allowed for competitive matches, with Ecuador securing their spot in the World Cup for the first time. The event highlighted the growth of women’s football in the region and the potential for these young players to make an impact on the international stage.
