Each match lasted 80 minutes, consisting of two periods of 40 minutes, with an interval of 15 minutes.[3]
Participating teams
One team from each continental confederation participated in the tournament.[4] The same country may not participate in both the boys' and girls' tournament. As hosts, China was given Asia's spot to compete in the girls' tournament (and thus could not participate in the boys' tournament). Teams may qualify through preliminary competitions, or be nominated for participation by their confederation, with the invited teams ratified by FIFA during their meeting in Zürich on 3–4 October 2013.
Players must be 15 years old (born between 1 January and 31 December 1999) to be eligible to participate.[3] Each team consisted of 18 players (two of whom must be goalkeepers).[10]
Match officials
A total of six referees and twelve assistant referees were appointed by FIFA for the tournament.[11]
† Morag Pirie is affiliated with the Football Association of Scotland. Since Scotland is not a member of the IOC, she is listed by the IOC under Great Britain.
Group stage
The draw was held at the Hilton Hotel in Nanjing on 14 May 2014.[12] The winners and runners-up of each group advance to the semi-finals. The rankings of teams in each group are determined as follows:[3]
points obtained in all group matches;
goal difference in all group matches;
number of goals scored in all group matches;
If two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above three criteria, their rankings are determined as follows:
points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned;
goal difference in the group matches between the teams concerned;
number of goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned;
drawing of lots by the FIFA Organising Committee.
Key to colours in group tables
Group winners and runners-up advance to the Semi-finals
In the knockout stages, if a match is level at the end of normal playing time, the match is determined by a penalty shoot-out (no extra time is played).[3]
