Nigeria’s Falconets will begin their FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup campaign against reigning champions Spain on Monday, 7 September, before facing China PR and debutants New Caledonia in Group F.
The tournament starts in Poland on Saturday, 5 September 2026. Nigeria will meet China PR on 10 September and New Caledonia on 13 September as they attempt to win the competition for the first time.
The Falconets have finished runners-up twice, losing to Germany in the 2010 and 2014 finals. They will hope to go one step further in Poland and finally claim the title.
Spain
Spain have qualified for six editions of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, including appearances in 2004, 2016, 2018, 2022 and 2024, as well as the 2026 tournament in Poland.
The Spanish side have developed into one of the leading teams in the age-group competition. At their first appearance in 2004, they finished bottom of Group C behind the USA, Russia and South Korea, but have since made significant progress.
Under manager David Aznar, Spain have become technically polished and tactically disciplined, with possession-based football central to their approach.
Their best result came in 2022, when they won the tournament by beating Japan 3–1 in the final. The victory on 30 August 2022 was Spain’s first FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup title and avenged their 3–1 defeat by Japan in the 2018 final.
Spain established control in the 2022 final during the opening 27 minutes. Inma Gabarro, scoring her eighth goal of the tournament, and Salma Paralluelo put them in front. Japan responded after half-time through Suzu Amano but could not force a second goal.
Spain’s biggest win in the competition came in a 5–0 victory over hosts Costa Rica on 13 August 2022. Sonia Majarin scored in the 26th minute, Ariadna Mingueza added another seven minutes later, and Inma Gabarro converted a 62nd-minute penalty. Ane Elexpuru scored in the 74th minute before Salma Paralluelo completed the rout in added time.
That result helped Spain progress from the group stage and continue their run to the title.
The meeting with Nigeria in Poland will be the teams’ third at the tournament. Nigeria won the first encounter 2–1 on 19 November 2016 in Papua New Guinea. Spain took revenge on 16 August 2018 in France, winning 2–1 and reaching the semi-finals for the first time.
Spain have played 22 matches at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, recording 13 victories, three draws and six defeats. They will be seeking a second title in Poland.
China PR
China PR have qualified for the 2026 tournament after finishing among the top four at the AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup.
Their appearance in Poland will be their eighth overall qualification, although the source record lists seven previous tournament appearances: 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018. The competition was historically known as the FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship before 2006.
China PR have established themselves as one of Asia’s strongest women’s teams and have qualified for every other edition of the tournament.
Their best performances came in 2004 and 2006, when they finished as runners-up. In 2004, China finished second in their group and defeated Brazil 2–0 in the semi-finals before losing 2–0 to Germany in the final.
Two years later, they reached the final again but were beaten 5–0 by North Korea.
China PR’s biggest victory in the competition was a 4–0 quarter-final win over hosts Russia in 2006. Zi scored after eight minutes, Ma Xiaoxu struck in the 19th minute, Zhang added a third before half-time and You completed the scoring after 60 minutes.
China and Nigeria have met twice previously at the tournament. China won the first match 3–0 in the group stage of the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Championship in Russia.
Nigeria still reached the knockout stage after finishing second in Group B with six points, having beaten Canada 3–2 and Finland 8–0. Brazil then defeated the Falconets 2–1 after extra time in the quarter-finals.
Their second meeting, in Group D on 13 August 2018, ended 1–1. Linyan Zhang gave China the lead, but a late own goal in stoppage time earned Nigeria a draw and sent the Falconets into the quarter-finals at China’s expense.
China have played 24 matches at the competition, winning 11, drawing six and losing seven. They will hope their 2026 campaign can reproduce the form that took them to the finals in 2004 and 2006.
New Caledonia
New Caledonia will make their historic debut at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.
They qualified by reaching the final of the 2025 OFC U-19 Women’s Championship, including a crucial 2–0 semi-final victory over Fiji.
The team enter a difficult group alongside Nigeria, Spain and China PR. With no previous matches or victories at this global tournament, New Caledonia will be attempting to establish a record from the beginning.
Their largest regional victory came on 30 August 2019, when they beat Papua New Guinea 8–0 in the opening match of the OFC U-19/U-20 Women’s Championship in the Cook Islands.
They have also suffered heavy defeats, including a 26–0 loss to regional powerhouses New Zealand in 2015. That remains their record defeat at under-19 and under-20 level.
New Caledonia are regarded as a strong side at home but face a major challenge outside their usual surroundings in Poland. A goal or a point would represent a significant achievement, while defensive organisation will be vital when they face Spain on Monday, 7 September 2026.