Spain Edges DPR Korea on Penalties to Win U-20 Women’s World Cup

​Spain captured the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Poland 2026 title on Sunday, defeating defending champions DPR Korea in a tense penalty shootout following a scoreless 120 minutes of tactical football in Lodz.

​Goalkeeper Laia Lopez cemented her status as the hero of the final, stopping two crucial penalties to guide La Rojita to their second global crown at this level, adding to their 2022 triumph in Costa Rica. This victory also continues a golden era for Spanish football, echoing the senior men’s national team’s World Cup success earlier this July.

​A Tactical Stalemate

​The championship match lived up to its billing as a clash of titans, though clear-cut chances were at a premium during regular time. DPR Korea’s defensive discipline was on full display throughout the tournament, as they wrapped up their campaign having remarkably not conceded a single goal in open play—a historic first for the U-20 Women’s World Cup.

​However, Spain nearly paid the price for a defensive lapse in the first half when a miscue allowed DPR Korea substitute Ho Kyong—introduced early in a tactical shift for Pak Ok-I—to threaten. Spanish shot-stopper Lopez rushed off her line to snuff out the danger, keeping her side level.

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​As the match wore on, Spain ratcheted up the pressure. Forward Pau Comendador forced a brilliant diving stop from DPR Korea goalkeeper Pak Ju-Gyong in the 78th minute. Extra-time substitute Marisa Garcia also tested Pak twice, but the resolute North Korean defense held firm, pushing the contest into the dreaded lottery of penalties.

​Sweet Revenge and Historic Glory

​The shootout carried extra emotional weight for the Spaniards, offering a shot at redemption after DPR Korea edged them out on penalties in the final of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic two years prior.

​This time, it was Spain’s turn to triumph. Lopez denied efforts from Choe Yon-A and Pak Il-Sim, giving her side the upper hand and sealing a historic win for La Rojita on Polish soil.