Spain and defending champions DPR Korea meet in the final of the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Łódź, Poland, on Sunday, with kick-off set for 18:00 local time at Stadion Miejski ŁKS — a final that carries the echoes of a 2024 U-17 decider between the same two nations.
How they got here
Spain reached the final by beating Italy 2-0 in Wednesday's first semi-final. Italy's Elena Belli turned the ball into her own net in the 40th minute before Pau Comendador struck in the 56th, with Daniela Agote named player of the match after an influential performance.
Hours later, DPR Korea powered past Colombia 3-0 in the second semi-final. Captain Pak Ok-I opened the scoring in the 28th minute, Choe Rim-jong doubled the advantage seven minutes later, and So Ryu-gyong struck from a worked free-kick in the 47th minute to complete the rout.
Spain, champions in 2022, had edged Brazil 1-0 in the quarter-finals through Comendador's first-half goal. DPR Korea needed two stoppage-time goals to see off a stubborn Canada 2-0 in the last eight — and have not conceded a single goal in the entire tournament.
Revenge or dominance
The subplot is compelling: DPR Korea edged Spain in the 2024 U-17 Women's World Cup final in a dramatic penalty shootout. Seven players in the Spanish squad lived through that night, including Irune Dorado, who said: "We want revenge. We have a rather bitter memory of that final. We want to play them for the trophy again and we want to beat them."
Continuity runs deep on the other side too — 18 of the 21 DPR Korea players selected for Poland 2026 were part of the 2024 squad. A DPR Korea victory would extend a remarkable era of dominance in women's youth football; for Spain, it is a chance to reclaim the crown they won in 2022.
The final can be watched live on DAZN via FIFA+ in selected territories.
Sources: DPR Korea and Spain Set Up Heavyweight U-20 Women's World Cup Final · Spain v DPR Korea Final Preview
How they got here
Spain reached the final by beating Italy 2-0 in Wednesday's first semi-final. Italy's Elena Belli turned the ball into her own net in the 40th minute before Pau Comendador struck in the 56th, with Daniela Agote named player of the match after an influential performance.
Hours later, DPR Korea powered past Colombia 3-0 in the second semi-final. Captain Pak Ok-I opened the scoring in the 28th minute, Choe Rim-jong doubled the advantage seven minutes later, and So Ryu-gyong struck from a worked free-kick in the 47th minute to complete the rout.
Spain, champions in 2022, had edged Brazil 1-0 in the quarter-finals through Comendador's first-half goal. DPR Korea needed two stoppage-time goals to see off a stubborn Canada 2-0 in the last eight — and have not conceded a single goal in the entire tournament.
Revenge or dominance
The subplot is compelling: DPR Korea edged Spain in the 2024 U-17 Women's World Cup final in a dramatic penalty shootout. Seven players in the Spanish squad lived through that night, including Irune Dorado, who said: "We want revenge. We have a rather bitter memory of that final. We want to play them for the trophy again and we want to beat them."
Continuity runs deep on the other side too — 18 of the 21 DPR Korea players selected for Poland 2026 were part of the 2024 squad. A DPR Korea victory would extend a remarkable era of dominance in women's youth football; for Spain, it is a chance to reclaim the crown they won in 2022.
The final can be watched live on DAZN via FIFA+ in selected territories.
Sources: DPR Korea and Spain Set Up Heavyweight U-20 Women's World Cup Final · Spain v DPR Korea Final Preview
