Spain beat North Korea on penalties to win 2026 U20 Women’s World Cup

Spain were crowned champions of the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland after defeating North Korea 4–3 in a tense penalty shootout on Sunday.

The showpiece final at the national stadium in Warsaw ended goalless after 120 minutes of intense football, forcing the high-stakes clash into spot-kicks to decide the winner.

Both continental giants played out a tactical, defensive masterclass during regulation and extra time, cancelling each other out across two hours of relentless pressure.

When the decisive shootout arrived, the Spanish side held their composure from 12 yards, converting four of their attempts to edge past the Asian powerhouses and claim world glory.

Spain’s triumph in Poland capped off a flawless tournament campaign in which they asserted their dominance from the opening round.

Drawn in Group F, Spain topped their table with maximum points, scoring 16 goals while conceding just once in three matches. Their run included an 11–0 thrashing of New Caledonia and a commanding 3–1 victory over China.

En route to the final, La Rojita dispatched European rivals Portugal 2–0 in the round of 16, edged past South American giants Brazil 1–0 in a tight quarter-final, and shut out Italy 2–0 in the semi-finals.

Spain ended the tournament without dropping a single match, showcasing tactical discipline and clinical efficiency on the global stage.

North Korea, who had swept through Group E with three wins and zero goals conceded, settled for the silver medal after falling short in the dramatic shootout.

The victory marks Spain’s continued reign at the top tier of international women’s youth football, adding another major FIFA trophy to their cabinet.