FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup explained

FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
Organiser:	FIFA
Region:	International
Number Of Teams:	24 (finals)
Related Comps:	FIFA U-20 World Cup
Most Successful Team:	(3 titles each)
Current:	2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup

The FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup is an international association football tournament, organized by FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association), for national teams of women under the age of 20. The tournament is held in even-numbered years. It was first held in 2002 as the FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship with an upper age limit of 19. In 2006, the age limit was raised to the current 20. The event was renamed as a World Cup since the 2008 competition, making its name consistent with FIFA's other worldwide competitions for national teams.

Starting with the 2010 edition, tournaments held in years immediately preceding the FIFA Women's World Cup are awarded as part of the bidding process for the Women's World Cup. In those years, the U-20 Women's World Cup serves as a test event for the host nation of the Women's World Cup, a role similar to that of the former FIFA Confederations Cup in the men's game.

The current champions are North Korea, who won their third title at the 2024 tournament in Colombia.

Qualification

Each continental governing body has its own qualifying tournament, but Africa does not determine a champion.

Confederation	Qualifier
AFC (Asia)	AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup
CAF (Africa)	African U-20 Women's World Cup qualification
CONCACAF (North, Central America and Caribbean)	CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship
CONMEBOL (South America)	South American Under-20 Women's Football Championship
OFC (Oceania)	OFC U-20 Women's Championship
UEFA (Europe)	UEFA Women's U-19 Championship

History

2002

The first women's world championship at the youth level, held as the 2002 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship, with an age limit of 19, was hosted by Canada. The final, held at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, drew a surprisingly large crowd of 47,000 to watch the hosts play the United States. The US defeated Canada 1–0 on a golden goal by Lindsay Tarpley. Canada's Christine Sinclair was the adidas Golden Ball recipient, as tournament MVP, and the Golden Shoe (10 goals) winner.

2004

The 2004 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship was held in Thailand. For the second time in a row, the current holders of the senior World Cup, Germany, won the youth competition. The Golden Ball went to Brazilian star, Marta, while for the second time the Golden Boot went to a Canadian, Brittany Timko.

2006

FIFA raised the women's youth championship age limit to 20 to match the men's, beginning with the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship, held in Russia from 17 August through 3 September.

The competition was held in four Moscow stadiums (Dinamo, Lokomotiv, Podmoskovie Stadium and Torpedo Stadion) and one in St. Petersburg (Petrovskiy Stadion).

Korea DPR won the final 5–0 over China PR.

2008

The 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship was held in Chile, from 20 November to 7 December 2008.^[1]

Six years after winning their first championship at the youth level in 2002, the United States reclaimed the trophy with a 2–1 win over defending champions Korea DPR. The Golden Ball and the Golden Shoe went to Sydney Leroux of the United States.

2010

The 2010 edition of the tournament was held in Germany from 13 July to 1 August 2010. The host nation defeated Nigeria in the final to claim its second championship. It was the first time that an African nation had advanced as far as the semifinals. It was also the first tournament in which four different confederations were represented in the semifinals. The Golden Ball and Golden Shoe awards both went to Alexandra Popp of Germany.

2012

The 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup was played in Japan from 19 August to 8 September,^[2] after initially having a hosting bid from Vietnam withdrawn and a bid from Uzbekistan rejected. The Golden Ball went to Dzsenifer Marozsán of Germany, while the Golden Shoe went to Kim Un-hwa of North Korea.

2014

The 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup was held in Canada from 5–25 August 2014, who reprised its role as host after a Zimbabwean bid withdrew leaving the Canadian bid unopposed. The Golden Ball and Golden Shoe awards both went to Asisat Oshoala of Nigeria.

2016

The 2016 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup was expected to be held in South Africa, but due to the country's withdrawal, a new host was chosen on 19 March 2015, and it was Papua New Guinea.^[3]

2018

The 2018 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup was held in France from 5–24 August 2018; a year later France would host the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. The Golden Ball and Golden Shoe awards both went to Patricia Guijarro of Spain.

2020

The 2020 edition was initially to be hosted jointly by Costa Rica and Panama in August 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic it has been postponed to January 2021, to be solely hosted by Costa Rica. Due to having the highest COVID-19 cases and deaths in the region, Panama withdrew from hosting this event along with the 2022 Central American and Caribbean Games.^[4] The tournament was initially postponed to 2021, subject to further monitoring.^[5] On 17 November 2020, FIFA announced that the 2020 edition of the tournament would be cancelled.^[6]

2022

Following the cancellation of the 2020 edition, Costa Rica were appointed as hosts of the tournament in 2022.^[6]

2024

As of 2024 the tournament will be expanded from 16 to 24 teams.^[7] Colombia was selected as host on 23 June 2023.^[8]

2026

Poland was selected as host on 17 December 2023.^[9]

Results

	Year	Host	Final			Third place game
width= 100px	Champions	width=	Score	width= 100px	Runners-up	width= 100px	Third place	width=	Score	width= 100px	Fourth place
1	2002	Canada		1–0			1–1		12
2	2004	Thailand		2–0			3–0		12
3	2006			5–0			0–0		16
4	2008	Chile		2–1			5–3		16
5	2010	Germany		2–0			1–0		16
6	2012	Japan		1–0			2–1		16
7	2014	Canada		1–0			3–2		16
8	2016			3–1			1–0		16
9	2018	France		3–1			1–1		16
10	2022	Costa Rica		3–1			4–1		16
11	2024	Colombia		1–0			2–1		24
12	2026	align=left	Poland							24

Teams reaching the top four

Team	Titles	Runners-up	Third place	Fourth place
	3 (2004, 2010, 2014)	1 (2012)	2 (2002, 2008)	—
	3 (2006, 2016, 2024)	1 (2008)	—	1 (2014)
	3 (2002, 2008, 2012)	—	2 (2004, 2024)	2 (2006, 2016)
	1 (2018)	2 (2022, 2024)	2 (2012, 2016)	—
	1 (2022)	1 (2018)	—	—
	—	2 (2010, 2014)	—	1 (2012)
China PR	—	2 (2004, 2006)	—	—
	—	1 (2016)	1 (2014)	2 (2008, 2018)
	—	1 (2002)	—	—
	—	—	2 (2006, 2022)	2 (2002, 2004)
	—	—	1 (2010)	—
	—	—	1 (2018)	—
	—	—	—	2 (2022, 2024)
	—	—	—	1 (2010)

Awards

Below are the award winners.^[10]

Golden BallAwarded to the best player of the tournament.

Tournament	Winner
2002 Canada	Christine Sinclair
2004 Thailand	Marta
2006 Russia	Ma Xiaoxu
2008 Chile	Sydney Leroux
2010 Germany	Alexandra Popp
2012 Japan	Dzsenifer Marozsán
2014 Canada	Asisat Oshoala
2016 Papua New Guinea	Hina Sugita
2018 France	Patricia Guijarro
2022 Costa Rica	Maika Hamano
2024 Colombia	Choe Il-son
2026 Poland

Golden BootThe topscorer award.

Tournament	Winner	Goals
2002 Canada	Christine Sinclair	11
2004 Thailand	Brittany Timko	7
2006 Russia	Ma Xiaoxu	5
2008 Chile	Sydney Leroux	5
2010 Germany	Alexandra Popp	10
2012 Japan	Kim Un-hwa	7
2014 Canada	Asisat Oshoala	7
2016 Papua New Guinea	Mami Ueno	5
2018 France	Patricia Guijarro	6
2022 Costa Rica	Inma Gabarro	8
2024 Colombia	Choe Il-son	6
2026 Poland

Golden GloveAwarded to the best goalkeeper.

Tournament	Winner
2008 Chile	Alyssa Naeher
2010 Germany	Bianca Henninger
2012 Japan	Laura Benkarth
2014 Canada	Meike Kämper
2016 Papua New Guinea	Mylène Chavas
2018 France	Sandy MacIver
2022 Costa Rica	Txell Font
2024 Colombia	Femke Liefting
2026 Poland

FIFA Fair Play Trophy

Tournament	Winner
2002 Canada
2004 Thailand
2006 Russia
2008 Chile
2010 Germany
2012 Japan
2014 Canada
2016 Papua New Guinea
2018 France
2022 Costa Rica
2024 Colombia
2026 Poland

Comprehensive team results in each World Cup

Legend

— Champions
— Runners-up
— Third place
— Fourth place
QF – Quarter-finals
R16 – Round of 16
GS – Group stage
— Did not qualify
— Did not enter / Withdrew / To be determined
— Country did not exist or national team was inactive
— Hosts
Q – Qualified for upcoming tournament

For each tournament, the flag of the host country and the number of teams in each finals tournament (in brackets) are shown.

Confederation	2002 (12)	2004 (12)	2006 (16)	2008 (16)	2010 (16)	2012 (16)	2014 (16)	2016 (16)	2018 (16)	2022 (16)	2024 (24)	2026 (24)	Total
CONMEBOL	•	•	GS	GS	•	GS	•	•	•	•	R16		4
AFC	QF	QF	GS	•	•	•	•	•	•	GS	GS		5
UEFA	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	R16		1
CONMEBOL	4th	4th	3rd	QF	GS	GS	GS	QF	GS	3rd	QF		11
CAF	×	×	•	•	×	•	×	•	•	•	R16		1
CONCACAF	2nd	QF	GS	GS	•	GS	QF	GS	•	GS	R16		9
CONMEBOL	•	•	•	GS	•	•	•	•	•	•	•		1
AFC	•	bgcolor=silver	2nd	bgcolor=silver	2nd	GS	•	GS	GS	•	GS	•	•		6
AFC	GS	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•		1
CONMEBOL	•	•	•	•	4th	•	•	•	•	QF	QF		3
CONCACAF	•	•	•	•	GS	•	GS	•	•	GS	GS		4
UEFA	QF	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•		1
CAF	×	•	GS	GS	•	•	×	•	×	•	•		2
UEFA	QF	•	•	QF	GS	•	GS	•	3rd	•	•		5
OFC	•	×	•	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	GS		1
UEFA	•	•	GS	•	•	•	GS	•	•	•	•		2
UEFA	GS	•	QF	4th	GS	•	3rd	bgcolor=silver	2nd	4th	QF	R16		9
UEFA	3rd	bgcolor=gold	1st	QF	3rd	1st	bgcolor=silver	2nd	bgcolor=gold	1st	QF	QF	GS	QF		11
CAF	×	×	•	•	GS	GS	GS	GS	GS	GS	GS		7
CONCACAF	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	GS	•	×		1
UEFA	•	GS	•	•	•	GS	•	•	•	•	•		2
AFC	QF	•	•	QF	GS	3rd	•	3rd	bgcolor=gold	1st	bgcolor=silver	2nd	bgcolor=silver	2nd		8
CONCACAF	GS	•	GS	GS	QF	QF	GS	QF	GS	QF	R16		10
CAF	•	•	•	×	×	•	•	×	•	•	GS		1
UEFA	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	QF	4th	4th		3
OFC	•	×	GS	GS	GS	GS	QF	GS	GS	GS	GS		9
CAF	GS	QF	QF	QF	bgcolor=silver	2nd	4th	bgcolor=silver	2nd	GS	QF	QF	R16		11
AFC	•	•	bgcolor=gold	1st	bgcolor=silver	2nd	QF	QF	4th	bgcolor=gold	1st	QF	×	bgcolor=gold	1st		8
UEFA	•	•	•	GS	•	QF	•	•	•	•	•		2
OFC	×	•	•	×	×	•	•	GS	•	•	•		1
CONMEBOL	•	•	•	•	•	•	GS	•	GS	•	GS		3
UEFA	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	Q	1
UEFA	•	QF	QF	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	×		2
AFC	•	GS	•	•	3rd	QF	QF	GS	•	GS	R16		7
UEFA	•	GS	•	•	•	•	•	QF	bgcolor=silver	2nd	bgcolor=gold	1st	QF		5
UEFA	•	•	•	•	QF	•	•	GS	•	•	•		2
UEFA	•	•	GS	•	GS	GS	•	•	•	•	•		3
AFC	•	GS	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•		1
CONCACAF	bgcolor=gold	1st	3rd	4th	bgcolor=gold	1st	QF	bgcolor=gold	1st	QF	4th	GS	GS	3rd		11
CONMEBOL	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	GS	•	•	GS		2

Debut of national teams

Year	Debuting teams
Year	Teams	width=40		width=40
valign=top; align=center		,,,,,,,,,,,	12	12
valign=top; align=center		,,,,,	6	18
valign=top; align=center		,,,,,	6	24
valign=top; align=center		,	2	26
valign=top; align=center		,,,	4	30
valign=top; align=center		None	0	30
valign=top; align=center			1	31
valign=top; align=center		,	2	33
valign=top; align=center		,	2	35
valign=top; align=center		None	0	35
valign=top; align=center		,,,	4	39
valign=top; align=center			1	40

Results by confederation

— Hosts are from this confederation

AFC

	2002 (12)	2004 (12)	2006 (16)	2008 (16)	2010 (16)	2012 (16)	2014 (16)	2016 (16)	2018 (16)	2022 (16)	2024 (24)	2026 (24)	Total
Teams	2	3	3	3	3	4	3	3	3	3	4	4	38
Top 16	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	3		3
Top 8	1	1	2	2	2	3	2	2	2	1	2		20
Top 4	0	1	2	1	1	1	1	2	1	1	2			13
Top 2	0	1	2	1	0	0	0	1	1	1	2		9
bgcolor=gold	1st			bgcolor=gold						bgcolor=gold		bgcolor=gold			bgcolor=gold		4
bgcolor=silver	2nd		bgcolor=silver		bgcolor=silver		bgcolor=silver							bgcolor=silver		bgcolor=silver		5
3rd													3
4th													1

CAF

	2002 (12)	2004 (12)	2006 (16)	2008 (16)	2010 (16)	2012 (16)	2014 (16)	2016 (16)	2018 (16)	2022 (16)	2024 (24)	2026 (24)	Total
Teams	1	1	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	4	4	26
Top 16	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2		2
Top 8	0	1	1	1	1	1	1	0	1	1	0		8
Top 4	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	0	0	0	0		3
Top 2	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0		2
bgcolor=gold	1st													0
bgcolor=silver	2nd					bgcolor=silver			bgcolor=silver						2
3rd													0
4th													1

CONCACAF

	2002 (12)	2004 (12)	2006 (16)	2008 (16)	2010 (16)	2012 (16)	2014 (16)	2016 (16)	2018 (16)	2022 (16)	2024 (24)	2026 (24)	Total
Teams	3	2	3	3	3	3	4	3	3	4	4	4	39
Top 16	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	3		3
Top 8	2	2	1	1	2	2	2	2	0	1	1		16
Top 4	2	1	1	1	0	1	0	1	0	0	1		8
Top 2	2	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0		4
bgcolor=gold	1st	bgcolor=gold				bgcolor=gold			bgcolor=gold						3
bgcolor=silver	2nd													1
3rd													2
4th													2

CONMEBOL

	2002 (12)	2004 (12)	2006 (16)	2008 (16)	2010 (16)	2012 (16)	2014 (16)	2016 (16)	2018 (16)	2022 (16)	2024 (24)	2026 (24)	Total
Teams	1	1	2	3	2	2	2	2	2	2	5	4	28
Top 16	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	3		3
Top 8	1	1	1	1	1	0	0	1	0	2	2		10
Top 4	1	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0		5
Top 2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0
bgcolor=gold	1st													0
bgcolor=silver	2nd													0
3rd													2
4th													3

OFC

	2002 (12)	2004 (12)	2006 (16)	2008 (16)	2010 (16)	2012 (16)	2014 (16)	2016 (16)	2018 (16)	2022 (16)	2024 (24)	2026 (24)	Total
Teams	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	2	1	1	2	2	15
Top 16	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0		0
Top 8	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0		3
Top 4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0
Top 2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0
bgcolor=gold	1st													0
bgcolor=silver	2nd													0
3rd													0
4th													0

UEFA

	2002 (12)	2004 (12)	2006 (16)	2008 (16)	2010 (16)	2012 (16)	2014 (16)	2016 (16)	2018 (16)	2022 (16)	2024 (24)	2026 (24)	Total
Teams	4	4	5	4	5	4	4	4	5	4	5	6	54
Top 16	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	5		5
Top 8	3	2	3	3	2	2	2	3	5	3	3		31
Top 4	1	1	0	2	1	1	2	1	3	2	1		15
Top 2	0	1	0	0	1	1	1	1	1	1	0		7
bgcolor=gold	1st		bgcolor=gold						bgcolor=gold				bgcolor=gold	4
bgcolor=silver	2nd						bgcolor=silver			bgcolor=silver		bgcolor=silver		3
3rd													4
4th													4

External links

- Women U-19/U-20 World Cup at the RSSSF

Notes and References

Web site: FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Chile 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071116142115/http://www.fifa.com/u20womenworldcup/index.html . dead . 16 November 2007 . FIFA . 26 November 2007.
Web site: Match Schedule FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Japan 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20130331193606/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/01/60/84/86/fu20wwc2012%5fmatchschedule%5f30072012.pdf. dead. 31 March 2013. FIFA.com. 30 July 2012.
Web site: Sport: PNG Football wants to host U20 Women's World Cup . Radio New Zealand International . 26 October 2014.
Web site: Costa Rica 'ready to host the entire tournament' as Panama bows out as U-20 Women's World Cup host. The Tico Times. 26 July 2020.
Web site: Bureau of the FIFA Council decisions on FIFA events. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. FIFA.com. 12 May 2020.
Web site: Update on FIFA Club World Cup 2020 and women's youth tournaments. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. FIFA.com. 24 December 2020. 17 November 2020.
https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/687f15d2c3eca79b/original/FIFA-Proposal-for-the-future-of-global-youth-competitions.pdf FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup from 16 to 24 teams.
Web site: FIFA Council appoints United States as host of new and expanded FIFA Club World Cup . FIFA.com . 1 July 2023. en.
Web site: FIFA Council appoints Chile and Poland as hosts of FIFA youth competitions. FIFA. 17 December 2023. 17 December 2023.
Web site: Statistical Kit . FIFA.com . . 34 . 11 August 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140817125330/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/womcompu20/51/99/46/fu20wwc2014event_kit_neutral.pdf . 17 August 2014 .