The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland was supposed to be about the next generation of football stars. Instead, before a ball was kicked, the tournament found itself caught up in one of the biggest political and governance disputes to hit FIFA in years.
For a period this summer, there was a genuine possibility that European nations could withdraw from FIFA competitions, putting the Under 20 Women’s World Cup directly in the firing line. The tournament itself was never formally postponed, but its status was thrown into uncertainty by the escalating dispute between FIFA president Gianni Infantino and several continental football authorities.
Now, with the competition underway since 5th September, the focus is finally where it belongs: on the players and there has already been plenty to talk about.
Caught in the middle:
The controversy centred on FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a proposed company that would manage the commercial and operational sides of FIFA competitions. FIFA planned to sell a minority stake to private investors, prompting strong opposition from UEFA and other confederations over concerns about governance and the future of the game.
UEFA’s 55 member associations backed a boycott of FIFA competitions, putting the U-20 Women’s World Cup at risk of being affected. However, FIFA eventually abandoned the FFE proposal, while UEFA suspended its boycott threat after receiving assurances it would not return. The tournament therefore went ahead as planned, with the football finally taking centre stage on 5 September.
Host country Poland:
The 2026 tournament is the 12th edition of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and the second to feature 24 teams, following the expansion from 16. The competition is being staged across four Polish cities: Bielsko-Biala, Katowice, Lodz and Sosnowiec.
There are 52 matches in total, beginning with the group stage before the knockout rounds culminate in the final in Lodz on 27 September. Poland are making their debut at the tournament, alongside five other first-time participants: Benin, Ecuador, New Caledonia, Portugal and Tanzania.
That is part of what makes this year’s competition particularly interesting. Alongside established women’s football powers are nations experiencing a FIFA women’s tournament at this level for the first time. There are also four former champions in the field: Japan, Korea DPR, Spain and the United States. Korea DPR arrive as the reigning champions after winning their third U-20 Women’s World Cup title in Colombia in 2024.
The groups:
The 24 teams have been divided into six groups of four.
Group A: Poland, Mexico, Argentina, Benin
Group B: Brazil, England, Canada, Tanzania
Group C: France, Korea Republic, Ghana, Ecuador
Group D: Japan, USA, New Zealand, Italy
Group E: Korea DPR, Colombia, Costa Rica, Portugal
Group F: Spain, Nigeria, China PR, New Caledonia
The qualification format is slightly unusual. The top two teams from each group automatically advance to the last 16, while the four best third-placed teams also qualify for the knockout stage. That gives teams a little more room for error, but it also means every goal can become significant when the third-place rankings are eventually compared.
Poland make the perfect start:
The hosts opened the tournament in Katowice on 5th September against Argentina. For Poland, there could hardly have been a better beginning. They defeated Argentina 3-0, giving the hosts three points and an immediate boost in a group containing Mexico and debutants Benin. FIFA president Gianni Infantino attended the opening match, an appearance that underlined the strange backdrop to the tournament. Only weeks earlier, his leadership had been at the centre of the dispute that threatened to overshadow the competition. Now he was watching Poland celebrate a World Cup victory on home soil.
Young Lionesses’ impress:
England entered the tournament with plenty of attention on them, particularly given the uncertainty that surrounded the competition in the build-up. Manager Lydia Bedford named a 21-player squad, with the Young Lionesses drawn alongside Brazil, Canada and Tanzania in Group B. Their opening match against Canada ended in defeat, but England responded emphatically against Tanzania on 8th September. They won 5-1, with Rachel Maltby scoring a hat-trick. Princess Ademiluyi and Jessie Gale also found the net as England produced a much-improved attacking performance. Maltby’s performance was particularly notable. The Aston Villa defender scored twice from the penalty spot before completing her hat-trick just before half-time. England’s final group game is against Brazil on 11 September, a fixture that could prove crucial in determining who tops Group B.
Argentina respond in spectacular fashion:
If Poland’s opening victory was a statement, Argentina’s response to their defeat was even louder. After losing 3-0 to the hosts, Argentina demolished Benin 8-0 on 8th September. Annika Paz was the star. She scored four goals, including a six-minute hat-trick, to immediately move to the top of the tournament’s Golden Boot standings. Mercedes Diz added two, while Julia Vinhas and Julieta Aguilar completed the scoring. For Argentina, it was exactly the response they needed after losing their opening game, setting up a fascinating final group game against Mexico, with qualification still to be decided.
Brazil show their strength:
Brazil have also made a perfect start. After beating Tanzania 4-1 in their opening game, they followed it up with a 3-0 victory over Canada. Nogueira opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Vitorinha and Brendha struck after half-time. The result sent Brazil through to the knockout stage with two wins from two. Their victory was made more impressive by the fact that Canada played most of the match with ten players following a first-half red card. Brazil now face England in what promises to be one of the standout group-stage games.
Stars emerging:
One of the best things about an Under 20s World Cup is that the tournament is as much about discovering future stars as it is about winning the trophy.
Brazil’s Nogueira has already caught the eye with her passing and creativity. Italy captain Azzurra Gallo impressed in the 2-1 victory over the United States, producing the kind of defensive performance that shows why she is already trusted with the captain’s armband.
China PR produced one of the most eye-catching results of the opening round with a 5-0 victory over New Caledonia. Jiaxin Huang scored a hat-trick in just 12 minutes, while Chen Ruilin came off the bench and produced three assists.
Ecuador’s Rosa Flores also provided one of the tournament’s early highlights, scoring from around the halfway line against Ghana before setting up another goal. And then there is Poland’s 17-year-old Lena Swirska. The midfielder played a major role in the hosts’ opening victory over Argentina, displaying the composure and athleticism that made her one of the most talked-about young players in Polish football even before the tournament began.
From controversy to the football:
After the uncertainty surrounding the tournament before kick-off, the focus has now shifted to where it belongs to the football.
The Under-20 World Cup gives young players the opportunity to represent their countries on the biggest stage at their age, while offering fans a glimpse of the next generation of talent. With six of the 24 teams making their debut at this level, it also reflects the continued growth of women’s football around the world.
The tournament has already provided plenty of entertaining and competitive football, with the group stage producing goals, surprises and some closely fought matches.
With the group stage continuing and the knockout rounds ahead, the focus is now firmly on what happens on the pitch. Twenty-four teams began the tournament with the same ambition, but only one will lift the trophy when the final takes place in Lodz on 27 September.
