The FIFA Women’s Under 20s World Cup recently drew to a close, with Spain claiming the top prize, and it is fair to say that the tournament had its fair share of surprises.
Argentina and North Korea maintained their strong start in the group stages, winning all of their matches while Brazil shocked the United States on penalties in the Round of 16.
Italy and South Korea also produced major upsets, sending Argentina and China, one of the tournament’s dominant sides, home. Canada also continued their impressive run of form, remaining unbeaten throughout the group stages.
Young talent has certainly flourished since the early days of the tournament, with major players not afraid to show off their craft at one of football’s biggest competitions. New Caledonia made history with Joceline Kourevi scoring the country’s first ever goal in the group stages against Nigeria, marking a milestone for the debutants.
Rachel Maltby and Princess Ademiluyi became two of England’s standout players throughout the competition, with Maltby scoring four goals and one assist and Ademiluyi recording her first against Tanzania, while Annika Paz and Annabelle Chukwu also impressed.
As the competition progressed through its later stages, the tournament provided a clear indication of which nations could challenge for the title and demonstrated why they remained among the teams to watch.
Here are five things we learnt from the tournament.
1. A 100% record does not always guarantee solid progression
Argentina sailed through the group stage with a perfect record against all three teams in their group but lost to South Korea in the Round of 16. South Korea continued their momentum with mixed results in the competition, including wins over Ecuador and Argentina, but struggled to make an impact against Italy in the quarter finals.
However, as this competition showed, a stellar record does not guarantee progression.
England’s shock exit to Nigeria, France’s defeat to Canada and North Korea’s strong run in the knockouts demonstrated that the tournament delivered plenty of surprises.
Argentina’s progress throughout the competition showed that group stage dominance can vanish completely in knockout football, while Italy and North Korea managed to maintain their momentum by keeping their composure during high pressure moments and playing high intensity football.
Smaller nations such as Colombia and Nigeria managed to take advantage of the opportunity by going deeper into the competition, establishing themselves as potential contenders, with Colombia reaching the semi finals for the first time.
With the major footballing powers like England, France and Poland eliminated, the tournament created standout highlights for less-established countries outside the traditional spotlight, allowing them to seize opportunities and create chances against established sides.
The unpredictability of the tournament gave an indication of how far teams could go. With no clear contender or frontrunner late in the competition, the group stage meant very little once the knockout rounds began, highlighting how quickly fortunes can change in international football.
2. Is consistency always key?
While Spain and North Korea were dominant throughout the competition and often grabbed the headlines, other countries such as Brazil, Colombia and Canada were among the surprise packages of the tournament.
There was strong momentum in both the group and knockout stages, with North Korea running riot against South Korea and Spain continuing their undefeated run by beating Portugal, Brazil and Italy in the knockout stages before establishing themselves as serious title contenders.
But is constant dominance always guaranteed for success? And does that consistency still matter?
Canada quietly gained traction as one of the more underrated sides, flying under the radar before picking up momentum against Tanzania and France, which made them confident under pressure and capable of taking risks against more established sides.
Their consistency and ability to take the game to the very end, made them one of the few teams to beat until their 2-0 defeat to North Korea in the quarter finals.
With Colombia reaching the last four, knocking out Poland, Nigeria and eventually winning third place, the team demonstrated that progression did not always come from dominating every match, but from maintaining their composure and developing their momentum in important moments throughout the competition.
Brazil used their ability to create chances and respond under pressure to progress further into the competition, while North Korea continued to dominate, demonstrating why they were one of the teams to watch.
Their consistent performances throughout the tournament highlighted that the team have not been just scraping through matches, but maintaining the same level and squad mentality rather than relying on one standout game.
3. Unlocking the next generation
While the World Cup provided lots of standout moments throughout the tournament, there was no shortage of talent on the pitch either, the competition giving young stars the opportunity to make their mark on the world stage.
Rachel Maltby became one of the breakout stars of the tournament throughout England’s run, making her mark throughout the competition. Maltby used her experience from playing at Aston Villa and other international tournaments to bag a hat trick in England’s group game against Tanzania.
After making a big impact against Nigeria, this not only demonstrated her ability and proficiency at performing at the highest level, but also highlighted the quality she had to make a difference on the pitch and establish herself as one of the tournament’s standout stories.
Princess Ademiluyi also impressed for England, combining beautifully with Maltby to strengthen the team dynamic and provide another threat to the backline, proving why she was one of the best players to watch. Her ability to control the ball under pressure and remain a constant attacking threat throughout the competition stood out, particularly in the game against Nigeria, where she consistently created chances despite England’s eventual defeat.
Annika Paz and Annabelle Chukwu also had incredible runs during the competition, with Paz becoming her country’s top scorer of the tournament with five goals, scoring four times in the opening group game against Benin and once against Mexico.
Chukwu also made an instant impact with Canada, scoring two goals in their second group game against Tanzania, while Celia Segura built on her past performances with Spain, finding the net four times against New Caledonia, demonstrating how young players used their ability to establish themselves on the international stage.
Despite New Caledonia being unable to progress further than the group stage, Kourevi’s historic goal against Nigeria was not merely a statement, but a chance to prove themselves against some of the major footballing powers.
It gave the country a platform to compete against established nations, which this World Cup demonstrated beautifully.
4. Why having a home advantage is not enough
While hosting a major competition on home soil can have its advantages, there were also high expectations for the hosts to deliver in front of their home supporters.
Poland’s role as hosts of the World Cup made it a major occasion for the country, particularly as it had previously hosted the men’s U20 World Cup in 2019 but had never held an international women’s tournament before.
There were doubts over whether the hosts would be able to perform before their opening fixtures, but they quickly proved those expectations wrong, winning three consecutive games in their first three group-stage matches while conceding just two goals.
While Poland maintained their momentum in their round-of-16 tie with Colombia, their early exit demonstrated that their place as hosts did not guarantee safety in the knockout stages.
Despite their dominant run, Poland continued to be challenged and tested against stronger opponents as the tournament continued. The tournament’s unpredictability showed that any team, regardless of their form or status, remained at risk of elimination, even when playing on home soil.
5. Continuing the legacy after the final whistle
While the tournament gave Poland a platform to showcase their talent and skills on the world stage, their work has not gone unnoticed. Their involvement as hosts had a wider impact beyond their own results, helping to demonstrate the country’s growing role in women’s football.
From never hosting a major women’s football competition to becoming the venue for three major fixtures, including the 2027 Women’s Champions League final, as well as introducing new strategies to encourage more women and girls into football, Poland ensured that its support and legacy extended beyond the pitch and the World Cup, creating new opportunities and a lasting impact that continued beyond the end of the competition.
Overall, this tournament delivered more than expected. Despite its controversial beginning, it certainly made its mark, and it did not disappoint.
From standout performers, to major upsets and unexpected moments, this World Cup brought out its fair share of surprises.
The tournament provided a platform for young stars to shine, with emerging nations and players challenging themselves against some of the best in the game and proving their potential, with composure, consistency and the ability to perform under pressure key to their success.
Poland’s role as hosts and their team’s dominant run in the group stages also played an important part, despite the team’s eventual defeat in the Round of 16. This opened up new avenues for the country, supporting new opportunities for women and girls in football, and a legacy that continues beyond the World Cup and the development of the women’s game.
As we reflect on this World Cup, its impact has the potential to extend far beyond the final result. As we have seen throughout the tournament, this could be only the beginning.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7626949/2026/09/25/womens-soccer-poland-u-20-world-cup
