FIFA President Gianni Infantino congratulated winners Spain and tournament hosts Poland at the end of a landmark FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Poland 2026™, a tournament that showcased the strength and depth of the women's game with the FIFA Women's World Cup Brazil 2027™ now less than a year away. “Congratulations to Spain on winning the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup [Poland] 2026 in Łódź and continuing your dominance on the global stage!” said President Infantino. “Well done to DPR Korea for playing a great tournament, and also to Colombia for winning the Bronze Final. Teams from three different continents winning gold, silver and bronze medals underline how FIFA competitions belong to everyone across the globe. “Many thanks once again to all the participating nations, the fans, match officials, volunteers, and hosts Poland for an incredible three weeks of football.”

Poland 2026 did everything a tournament for the sport's rising talent should: it entertained fans and it introduced the world to a new wave of players.

Twenty-four teams contested 52 matches across four Polish host cities – Łódź, Katowice, Sosnowiec and Bielsko-Biała – and between them produced 181 goals, making for consistently attacking, high-quality football from the group stage onwards. The tournament's six debutant nations more than held their own: Portugal and Poland both reached the knockout stages, Ecuador claimed a maiden win for the group, and all six first-timers found the net at least once, a sign of the game's continuing global spread at age-group level. At the summit of it all stood Spain, who won a second FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup™ title, following their triumph at Costa Rica 2022, with a 4-3 penalty shootout victory over holders DPR Korea after a tightly contested final finished goalless at Stadion Miejski ŁKS Łódź. Goalkeeper Laia Lopez was the shootout hero, saving efforts from Choe Yon-A and Pak Il-Sim. Silvia Cristobal was named Visa Player of the Match. “For us, it was a way to bring a beautiful cycle to a close with a brilliant generation that has achieved so much success at youth level,” said Spain coach David Aznar. “I’m very happy for them, above all to see them happy and to see them rewarded for all the work they have put in to get this far.” Cristobal added: “I think it’s the happiest day of our lives. We’ve dreamed of being here and lifting this long-awaited trophy since we were little.”

For DPR Korea, there was heartache but also a place in the record books: they became the first team not to concede a single goal during a whole FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup tournament. “After the game was all over, all of our players were crying and that really broke my heart. So I tried to comfort them. And as the head coach, I think that they all did their best. So I’m very proud of them,” said coach Han Chol-Hak.

The win completed a measure of revenge for a Spain squad largely beaten by DPR Korea on penalties in the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Dominican Republic 2024 final, and it made this the second global title in succession for Spain, whose senior men's team won the FIFA World Cup 2026™ in July. Spain also swept the individual honours. Midfielder Rosalia Domínguez, aged just 17, won the adidas Golden Ball after a tournament in which she orchestrated Spain's play, ahead of DPR Korea captain Ri Kuk-Hyang (adidas Silver Ball) and Comendador (adidas Bronze Ball). Comendador also won the adidas Golden Boot with six goals, becoming the first player to win two adidas Golden Boot awards in two different FIFA women's youth tournaments after her five-goal haul at Dominican Republic 2024™. Argentina's Annika Paz (adidas Silver Boot) and DPR Korea's Choe Yon-A (adidas Bronze Boot) each scored five, Lopez took the adidas Golden Glove after conceding just once in seven matches, and USA received the FIFA Fair Play Trophy.

Spain has become one of the true powerhouses of the global women’s game: a first FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup™ title in 2018, a first FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup™ crown in 2022, and the country's maiden FIFA Women's World Cup™ triumph at Australia & New Zealand 2023 made Spain the first nation to hold all three global titles at once. Poland 2026 suggests that pipeline shows little sign of slowing, and the young talents who shone in Poland now point the way towards the FIFA Women's World Cup Brazil 2027™. The tournament also broke new ground institutionally. It was the first FIFA finals staged under new regulations requiring every team to field at least one female head or assistant coach, at least one female member of medical staff and at least two female officials on the bench – rules that will now extend to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and FIFA Women's Champions Cup™ later this year, and on to the FIFA Women's World Cup Brazil 2027. Video assistant referees were also used at this level for the first time, following the trial of the simpler Football Video Support system in 2024.

The finals produced one further landmark: Colombia claimed bronze – their best-ever finish at this level – beating Italy 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, with goalkeeper Luisa Agudelo saving two spot-kicks to seal the medal. “I don't have words anymore,” said Colombia coach Carlos Paniagua. “We are a team that knows how to lose, but we also know how to get back on our feet... I will never forget Poland.”