Spain Edge North Korea on Penalties to Claim Second U-20 Women’s World Cup Title as Comendador Wins Golden Boot

Spain have been crowned champions of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Poland 2026 after defeating defending champions North Korea 4-3 on penalties following a goalless final in Lodz on Sunday.

Goalkeeper Laia Lopez emerged as the hero for La Rojita, saving two penalties in the shootout to deny North Korea a second consecutive title.

Lopez stopped efforts from Choe Yon A and Pak Il Sim, while Marisa Garcia, Celia Segura, Carla Julia and Daniela Agote all converted their kicks for Spain.

The victory secures Spain’s second U-20 Women’s World Cup title, following their triumph in Costa Rica in 2022.

It also marks a measure of revenge for seven Spanish players who had lost to North Korea on penalties in the 2024 U-17 Women’s World Cup final.

“Las siete jugadoras que disputamos esa final en República Dominicana estábamos en deuda con este torneo. Perdimos de una forma bastante cruel, los penaltis, el fútbol te da y te quita. Hemos ganado en penaltis y sentimos alivio de decir que hemos ganado el Mundial y nos hemos quitado la deuda que teníamos con el rival y con la competición,” said Irune Dorado.

Spain dominated possession throughout the match, enjoying 69 percent of the ball and registering 22 shots to North Korea’s 11. North Korea had entered the final without conceding a goal in open play throughout the entire tournament.

Real Madrid forward Pau Comendador claimed the adidas Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer with six goals . She also received the Bronze Ball for her overall performances.

Comendador’s goals came in crucial moments: a brace against New Caledonia, two more against China, the winning goal against Brazil in the quarter-finals, and the opener against Italy in the semi-finals.

She becomes the third Spanish player to win the U-20 Golden Boot, following Patri Guijarro in 2018 and Inma Gabarro in 2022.

Barcelona midfielder Rosalia Dominguez was awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player, while Laia Lopez took home the Golden Glove for her goalkeeping performances.

Spain’s campaign was near-perfect. They opened with a 2-0 win over Nigeria, thrashed New Caledonia 11-0, and beat China 3-1 in the group stage.

In the knockout rounds, they defeated Portugal 2-0, Brazil 1-0, and Italy 2-0 without conceding a single goal.

The Spanish squad featured players from seven Liga F clubs, with Barcelona and Real Madrid contributing five players each.

The team was received at the Spanish Football Federation headquarters in Las Rozas on Monday for a celebratory tribute.

RFEF president Rafael Louzan praised the team: “Toda España está orgullosa de esta selección. Están ilusionando a todo un país. Estamos muy orgullosos de vosotras, porque esa misión que se nos encarga, que es hacer feliz a un país, se está consiguiendo”.

The victory continues Spain’s remarkable dominance in women’s football, following their senior team’s World Cup triumph in 2023 and the men’s senior team’s World Cup win in July.