Spain has won the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Poland 2026, defeating defending champions DPR Korea on penalties after a goalless final in Lodz on Sunday. The match remained level after 120 minutes of a closely contested encounter, forcing the title to be decided by a penalty shootout. This triumph marks Spain's second U-20 Women’s World Cup title, with their first being in Costa Rica in 2022.
Spain goalkeeper Laia Lopez emerged as the hero in the penalty shootout, saving two penalties to help La Roja secure the decisive advantage. Lopez denied efforts from Choe Yon-A and Pak Il-Sim, giving Spain the win and securing the trophy. This victory also gives Spain their second global football title in succession, following the senior men’s team’s FIFA World Cup triumph in July.
Lopez had already been called into action earlier in the final, making an important intervention in the opening half. The Spanish goalkeeper came off her line to block an effort from Ho Kyong after the DPR Korea substitute collected the ball just outside the area following a defensive mistake by Spain. Ho had replaced Pak Ok-I late in the first half as the defending champions made a tactical adjustment.
The contest remained evenly balanced after the restart, although Spain gradually increased the pressure as the match progressed. In the 78th minute, Pau Comendador forced DPR Korea goalkeeper Pak Ju-Gyong into a strong diving save. Spain forward Marisa Garcia also came close after entering the game during extra time, but Pak twice denied her with impressive saves.
With neither team able to find a breakthrough after extra time, the final went to penalties. The shootout offered Spain an opportunity for revenge after DPR Korea defeated them 4-3 on penalties in the final of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic in 2024. This win comes four years after Spain's first U-20 Women’s World Cup title.
DPR Korea, meanwhile, completed the tournament without conceding a goal from open play, becoming the first team to achieve the feat throughout an entire FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup campaign. Despite their loss, DPR Korea's performance in the tournament was impressive, with their goalkeeper Pak Ju-Gyong making several key saves throughout the competition.
The victory marks a significant achievement for Spanish women's football, with the team continuing to build on their recent successes. The win will undoubtedly provide a boost to the team's confidence and momentum as they look to future competitions. The final was played on September 28, 2026, in Lodz, Poland, with Spain lifting the trophy after the penalty shootout.
Key points
- Spain won their second U-20 Women’s World Cup title by defeating DPR Korea on penalties.
- Laia Lopez's two saves in the penalty shootout proved decisive in securing Spain's victory.
- DPR Korea completed the tournament without conceding a goal from open play, a first in FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup history.
