By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
Spain have been crowned champions of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after defeating defending champions North Korea 4–3 on penalties following a goalless final in Łódź, Poland, on Sunday, September 27, 2026.
The closely contested final ended 0–0 after 90 minutes and remained goalless throughout extra time, forcing the championship to be decided by a penalty shootout at the Stadion Miejski ŁKS Łódź.
Spain goalkeeper Laia López emerged as the heroine of the final, producing two crucial saves in the shootout to deny Choe Yon-A and Pak Il-Sim. Spain converted all four of its successful attempts to secure the championship.
The victory gave Spain its second U-20 Women’s World Cup title, following its first triumph in Costa Rica in 2022. It also marked another major achievement for Spanish women’s football at international level.
The match itself was an evenly fought encounter, with both sides creating opportunities but neither able to find the decisive goal. López had already made an important contribution during the match when she came off her line to block an effort from North Korean substitute Ho Kyong following a defensive error.
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Spain increased the pressure after the interval, with Pau Comendador forcing North Korean goalkeeper Pak Ju-Gyong into an excellent save in the 78th minute. During extra time, Spain forward Marisa Garcia also came close twice, but Pak produced two impressive saves to keep the defending champions in contention.
The Merit Newspaper reports that penalty shootout ultimately settled a final between two sides with significant recent history. Several players had featured in the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup final, when North Korea defeated Spain on penalties. This time, however, Spain prevailed in another shootout against the same opposition.
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North Korea’s defeat ended an impressive campaign in which the defending champions became the first team to complete a FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup tournament without conceding a goal. Despite their loss in the final, they finished the competition with a remarkable defensive record.
For Spain, the triumph adds another global title to a country enjoying considerable success across international football. The Spanish senior men’s team won the 2026 FIFA World Cup in July, making the U-20 women’s triumph another world title for Spain in the same year.
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The latest success further underlines the depth of Spain’s football development and provides another memorable chapter in the country’s growing record of achievement in women’s football.
