Spain’s Under-20 women opened their 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over Nigeria’s Falconets, a result coach David Aznar said leaves the former champions in control of their own tournament prospects.
La Rojita established an early advantage in the match, with Marisa Garcia scoring in the 13th minute to put Spain ahead.
Nigeria, known as the Falconets, were unable to find a response before Alba Cerrato added a second goal with 17 minutes remaining. Her strike confirmed Spain’s victory and secured all three points from their opening fixture.
Aznar was pleased with the performance but said his side had been tested by a Nigerian team possessing considerable physical strength.
“We are very pleased. Winning the first match at a tournament of this level is always positive because it means that your destiny remains in your own hands going into the following games,” Aznar told FIFA.com.
“It was a very difficult match. We knew Nigeria would make things extremely difficult for us because they have tremendous physical potential, and we knew it was going to be demanding.
“I think we made an enormous effort and deserved to win.”
The Spain coach’s assessment reflected a contest in which his players had to manage the challenge posed by Nigeria after taking the lead. Garcia’s early goal gave La Rojita the platform to control the match, while Cerrato’s late contribution ensured there was no doubt about the outcome.
Victory means Spain have made the ideal start to their campaign, while Nigeria’s Falconets must recover from a two-goal defeat in their first Group opener. Aznar’s side will now turn their attention to their next fixture, with the opportunity to build on their opening result.
Spain will face tournament debutants New Caledonia on Thursday as they aim to make it two wins from two matches at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
Aznar had targeted a positive start against Nigeria, and his team delivered it with a disciplined display that combined an early breakthrough with a second-half finish. The result also gives the former champions momentum heading into their meeting with New Caledonia.
For Spain, the focus is now on maintaining that winning run. Another victory on Thursday would strengthen their position and continue a campaign that began with three points against a physically demanding Nigerian side.