Spain claimed their second FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup title after defeating defending champions North Korea 4-3 on penalties in Sunday’s final in Łódź, Poland.
The final ended goalless after 120 minutes, forcing the contest into a penalty shootout, where Spanish goalkeeper Laia López emerged as the hero with two crucial saves.
López denied Choe Yon-a and Pak Il-Sim from the spot to secure the trophy for Spain, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino among those in attendance.
ŁÓDŹ, POLAND – September 28: Spain players celebrate after defeating North Korea 4-3 on penalties to win the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup following a goalless draw after extra time. Photo by Kennedy Ugbodaga.
Spain defender Silvia Cristóbal described the victory as a dream come true, saying the team had worked towards lifting the trophy since childhood.
“I think it’s the happiest day of our lives. We’ve dreamed of being here and lifting this long-awaited trophy since we were little,” she said.
The final brought together the last two champions of the competition. Spain won their maiden title in 2022 before North Korea secured their third crown in 2024.
The two nations had also met in the 2024 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup final, where North Korea defeated Spain on penalties.
Sunday’s triumph further underlined Spain’s dominance in women’s football. The country has won two U17 Women’s World Cup titles, two U20 Women’s World Cup crowns and the senior FIFA Women’s World Cup within the past decade.
North Korea, meanwhile, surrendered their title despite achieving a remarkable defensive record by becoming the first team to finish a U20 Women’s World Cup campaign without conceding a goal.
North Korea coach Han Chol-Hak praised his players despite the disappointment of losing the final.
“All of our players were crying and that really broke my heart. So I tried to comfort them. And as the head coach, I think that they all did their best. So I’m very proud of them,” he said.
The victory adds another global women’s football title to Spain’s growing collection and reinforces their status as one of the leading forces in the women’s game.