By Ghazali Ibrahim
Spain have been crowned champions of the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after defeating defending champions North Korea 4-3 on penalties in a tense final in Łódź, Poland.
The final ended goalless after 90 minutes and neither side could find a breakthrough during extra time, sending the contest into a penalty shootout.
Spain goalkeeper Laia López emerged as the hero, saving two penalties from Choe Yon-a and Pak Il-Sim to help her side secure the title.
Spain converted four of their spot-kicks as North Korea missed twice, allowing La Rojita to reclaim the trophy four years after their first U-20 Women’s World Cup triumph in 2022.
The victory denied North Korea the chance to defend the title they won in Colombia in 2024 and secure another consecutive championship.
The final was a closely contested encounter, with both teams creating opportunities but neither able to break the deadlock.
Spain goalkeeper López had already produced an important intervention during the match, while North Korean goalkeeper Pak Ju-Gyong also made key saves, including against Spain’s Pau Comendador and Marisa Garcia.
Spain’s route to the final included wins over Portugal, Brazil and Italy in the knockout stages. They also began the tournament with a 2-0 victory over Nigeria in the group stage.
The title is Spain’s second U-20 Women’s World Cup crown, while North Korea finished as runners-up despite completing the tournament without conceding a goal during open play.
