Soccer: Tough World Cup draw for Young Ferns

The New Zealand women's under-17 football side have been handed a tough draw for September's World Cup in Azerbaijan. Photo / Getty Images.

The New Zealand women's under-17 football side have been handed a tough draw for September's World Cup in Azerbaijan, landing Japan, Brazil and Mexico in their group.

All three of New Zealand's pool games are in stadiums within Baku, the Azeri capital where the draw for the 16-nation tournament was held overnight.

The Young Football Ferns open Group C against Mexico on September 23, take on the Asian champions three days later before completing pool play against the South American champions on September 30.

On paper only Group B - where powerhouses North Korea, France and the United States are joined by Gambia - can lay a claim to being the tougher pool, but New Zealand coach Paul Temple is taking a pragmatic and positive approach to progressing beyond pool play.

"It's obviously a very tough group with opposition that present different challenges to us but we have to be confident in our own ability to cause them problems, too," he said. "We'll be taking a positive approach and giving it our best shot at causing some upsets.

"I'm confident in the ability of my players to be able to rise to the challenge and make these teams take note of us.

Temple was targeting a win against Mexico if his team was to have any chance of qualifying from the group.

"That first game against Mexico will be huge because it sets everything up and dictates your attitude leading into the final two matches."

Group A sees hosts Azerbaijan pooled with Colombia, Nigeria and Canada while Germany drew Uruguay, China and Ghana in Group D.

The top two teams in each of the four group progress to the quarter-finals.

New Zealand schedule at Fifa under-17 women's World Cup

New Zealand v Mexico, Bayil Stadium, Baku, September 23, 10pm (NZT)

New Zealand v Japan, 8km Stadium, Baku, September 27, 3am (NZT)

New Zealand v Brazil, 8km Stadium, Baku, September 30, 9pm (NZT)