Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Spain are champions of the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup for the second time in their history after defeating defending champions North Korea 4-3 on penalties following a goalless final at the Stadion Miejski LKS in Lodz, Poland, on Sunday, September 27, 2026. Goalkeeper Laia López emerged as the hero of the night, saving spot kicks from Choe Yon-a and Pak Il-Sim to deny North Korea a second consecutive title and a record fourth overall crown.
The final was a repeat of the 2024 U-17 Women's World Cup decider, when North Korea defeated Spain on penalties. Several players from that match featured again in Lodz, giving Spain an opportunity to exact revenge on the same stage. They took it, and in doing so, continued a remarkable period of dominance for Spanish football across every level of the international game. Spain's senior men's team are the current world and European champions. Their senior women's team won the 2023 World Cup. And now their U-20 women have added another global title to a rapidly expanding trophy cabinet.
The match itself was a tactical battle between two of the most well-drilled sides in youth football. Spain dominated possession from the opening whistle, stroking the ball with the technical precision that has become the hallmark of their national teams. North Korea, who had not conceded a single goal throughout the entire tournament, sat deep and absorbed pressure, relying on rapid counter-attacks and the outstanding goalkeeping of Pak Ju-Gyong. The first half produced chances for both sides. Alba Cerrato had the best opportunity for Spain, latching onto a through ball from Noemi Bejarano only to be denied by Pak in a one-on-one. At the other end, Ho Kyong, who had come on as a first-half substitute for the injured Pak Ok-I, broke clear of the Spanish defence but was thwarted by López, who rushed off her line to block the effort with an outstretched hand.
Spain increased the pressure after the break. Pau Comendador, who would later be named the tournament's best player, forced a diving save from Pak in the 78th minute. Marisa Garcia, introduced in extra time, twice came close to breaking the deadlock, but Pak denied her on both occasions. The North Korean goalkeeper had been a wall throughout the tournament, and she remained one until the final whistle. After 120 minutes, the score remained 0-0. The final would be decided from the penalty spot.
It was there that López, the 19-year-old Real Madrid goalkeeper, made herself immortal. She saved North Korea's first kick from Choe Yon-a and their fifth from Pak Il-Sim, giving Spain a 4-3 victory and sparking wild celebrations among the Spanish players and the sizeable contingent of supporters who had made the trip to central Poland. The stadium, which held just over 8,000 spectators, was filled mostly with Spanish fans, though a small and loyal group of North Korean supporters sang throughout. By the second half, some Polish neutrals had joined the Korean chants, impressed by the Asian side's resilience.
"I think it's the happiest day of our lives," Spain defender Silvia Cristobal said after the match. "We've dreamed of being here and lifting this long-awaited trophy since we were little. We're incredibly happy, extremely proud of the result and of everything we've achieved." Spain coach David Aznar praised his players for closing out what he called "a beautiful cycle" with a brilliant generation that had achieved so much at youth level. "It was a very tough, very difficult match, and they made things extremely difficult for us," Aznar said.
For North Korea, the defeat was cruel in its timing and its manner. They had arrived in Poland as the reigning champions and had produced a campaign of near-perfect defensive discipline. In six matches, they scored 16 goals and conceded none. They became the first team in the history of the U-20 Women's World Cup to complete an entire tournament without conceding a goal. Yet they left without the trophy. "All of our players were crying and that really broke my heart," North Korea coach Han Chol-Hak said. "I tried to comfort them. And as the head coach, I think that they all did their best. I'm very proud of them."
Spain's path to the final was emphatic. They opened the group stage with a 2-0 victory over Nigeria before thrashing New Caledonia 11-0 and defeating China 3-1. In the knockout rounds, they overcame Portugal 2-0, edged Brazil 1-0 in the quarter-finals, and dispatched Italy 2-0 in the semi-finals. Their only concession of the tournament came in the group stage. By the time they reached the final, they had established themselves as the most complete team in the competition, blending technical excellence with tactical discipline and a mental fortitude that was evident in the shootout.
For Spain, the victory represents the continuation of a golden era. In the past decade, they have won two U-17 Women's World Cups, two U-20 Women's World Cups, and the senior Women's World Cup. The men's team, meanwhile, won the 2026 World Cup in North America in July, and are the reigning European champions. No other country in world football can match that breadth of success. Spain now sit second on the all-time list of U-20 Women's World Cup winners with two titles, behind the United States, Germany and North Korea, who have each won three.
The final also marked the end of the tournament for two of its standout individuals. Pau Comendador of Spain was named the best player of the tournament and became the first player to win the adidas Golden Boot at two different FIFA women's youth tournaments, having previously won it at the U-17 Women's World Cup in 2024. North Korea's Ri Kuk Hyang was awarded the Silver Ball. The FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, watched from the stands, drawing a mixture of applause and whistles from sections of the crowd when he appeared on the big screen.
For North Korea, the loss will be difficult to process. They came within a penalty shootout of a second consecutive title and a fourth overall. They had the tournament's best defence, the best goalkeeper, and a striker in Pak Il-Sim who had scored in almost every match. But they could not find a goal against Spain, and in the end, they could not find a way past López. The tears that flowed at the final whistle were the tears of a team that had given everything and fallen just short. As Han Chol-Hak said, they did their best. It was not quite enough.
Spain return home as champions, their second U-20 Women's World Cup title secured, their place in the history of youth football cemented. The next stop for many of these players will be the senior stage, where the FIFA Women's World Cup will be hosted by Brazil in 2027. If the senior side can replicate the success of its youth teams, Spain may be on the verge of yet another era of dominance. For now, the celebrations in Lodz will continue long into the night, and the Spanish players will savour a victory that was earned through patience, resilience, and the safe hands of a young goalkeeper who picked the perfect moment to become a hero.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments