Spain beat DPR Korea on penalties to win U-20 Women’s World Cup

Spain beat DPR Korea on penalties to claim the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Łódź, Poland, after the final finished 0-0 following 120 minutes on Sunday, sources reported.

The match remained level through normal time and extra time, forcing a shootout that decided the title. According to one report, the shootout ended 4-3 in Spain’s favour on penalties. Punch provided the shootout scorecard; other accounts described the victory as coming on penalties without giving the exact shootout score (Vanguard).

Spain goalkeeper Laia Lopez played a decisive role, saving two penalties including those taken by Choe Yon-A and Pak Il-Sim, to secure the trophy, reports said. Lopez also made a key first-half intervention, rushing from her line to deny a shot by substitute Ho Kyong after the North Korean gathered the ball outside the area following a Spanish defensive error.

The Spanish side increased pressure after the break. In the 78th minute Pau Comendador drew a strong diving save from DPR Korea goalkeeper Pak Ju-Gyong, and forward Marisa Garcia was blocked twice by Pak during extra time, accounts said.

The victory is Spain’s second U-20 Women’s World Cup crown, after their 2022 triumph in Costa Rica, and follows Spain’s senior men’s team winning the FIFA World Cup in July, reports noted.

DPR Korea completed the tournament without conceding a goal in open play, becoming the first side to achieve that across a whole FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, media reports said.

Reactions

Spain coach David Aznar described the victory as completing “a beautiful cycle” for his players, saying he was “very happy for them, above all to see them happy and to see them rewarded for all the work they have put in” (Punch).

According to the same report, defender Silvia Cristobal said the squad had ‘‘dreamed of being here and lifting this long-awaited trophy since we were little the happiest” of their lives.

Despite the loss, DPR Korea coach Han Chol-Hak said he was proud of his players, adding that many cried after the match and that he tried to console them (Punch).

One outlet also said Pau Comendador became the first player to win two adidas Golden Boot awards in different FIFA women’s youth tournaments, having previously won the U-17 award in 2024; that detail was reported by Punch and not confirmed elsewhere.