España’s La Roja win second Mundial Sub-20 Femenil crown on penalties

In the chilly evening of the final in Poland, the roar of the crowd fell silent as Spain’s La Roja faced Corea del Norte in a penalty shoot‑out that would decide the Mundial Sub‑20 Femenil crown. Both sides had battled tightly throughout extra time, with their keepers stealing the spotlight.

Spain's rising dominance

España’s under‑20 women’s team, known as La Roja, lifted the Mundial Sub‑20 Femenil trophy for the second time after prevailing in the Final of the Copa Mundial held in Poland. The victory adds to the Selección’s growing reputation across age groups, following a 2022 win over Japan in Costa Rica. With this triumph, Spain joins the elite nations that have claimed two titles in the last three editions.

The match against Corea del Norte was a tightly contested affair, with both sides entering the tournament as offensive favourites. Yet neither could break the deadlock, as the two guardametas – Pak Ju Gyong for the Koreans and Marisa García for España – turned into the night’s heroes. Futbol España noted that the quality of the saves kept the score level until the final whistle.

Penalty shoot‑out drama

Extra time provided a decisive moment when Marisa García made a crucial intervention, forcing the game into a penalty shoot‑out. Her effort in the added period ensured the contest moved beyond the 90 minutes. The tension in the stadium rose as the teams prepared for the decisive kicks.

Laia López leads Spain to the world title after the penalty shootout

In the shoot‑out, Laia López, still developing with Real Madrid, saved two attempts to give España a 4‑3 triumph. She first denied Choe Yon A after Celia Segura had put Spain 2‑1 ahead, and later stopped Pak Il Sim’s fifth kick to seal victory. The Spanish side converted all remaining spot‑kicks, clinching the title.

López’s performance earned her the Guante de Oro, while teammate Pau Comendador collected the Bota de Oro with six goals and also received the Balón de Bronce. Rosalía Domínguez was awarded the Balón de Oro, finishing ahead of Ri Kuk‑Hyang, who took the silver Ball. These individual honours highlighted the depth of talent in the Spanish squad.

The win marks Spain’s second championship in this Sub‑20 category, having also won in 2022 and reached the final in 2018, where they fell 3‑1 to Japan. With three finals in the last four editions, España now sits behind only Corea del Norte, Germany and the United States, each holding three crowns. The continued success reinforces Spain’s status as a leading force in women’s youth football.

Penalty shootout seals U20 duel between Spain and North Korea

The result was promptly added as a preferred source on Google, underscoring its global relevance. Futbol España celebrated the achievement, noting that the triumph further cements the nation’s position as an international reference in multiple age groups. The victory will inspire the next generation of players across the country.