In Poland, Spain’s young women added another chapter to the country’s expanding international record, surviving North Korea on penalties to win the Women’s Under-20 World Cup. The final finished without a goal, before Laia López delivered the decisive interventions in a 4-3 shootout victory.
It was a contest between two sides that had arrived among the tournament’s most prolific attacking teams, yet the final belonged to the goalkeepers. Spain carried more of the play, but North Korea’s Pak Ju Gyong repeatedly kept her team level.
Quick facts
- Spain beat North Korea 4-3 on penalties after a scoreless final in Poland.
- Laia López saved attempts from Choe Yon A and Pak Il Sim in the shootout.
- López received the Golden Glove award.
- Pau Comendador finished with six goals, winning the Golden Boot and Bronze Ball.
- Rosalía Domínguez took the Golden Ball, while Ri Kuk-Hyang received the Silver Ball.
- Spain have now won two of the past three Women’s Under-20 World Cups.
Pak Ju Gyong was busy throughout, stopping Spain in the air, in one-on-one situations and from low efforts. Her most important save arrived in extra time, when she denied Marisa García and ensured the match would be settled from the spot.
Spain found the more decisive goalkeeper in the final reckoning. López, continuing her development with Real Madrid, stopped Choe Yon A’s kick after Celia Segura had converted to put Spain 2-1 ahead.
Both teams scored their subsequent penalties, leaving the outcome in López’s hands for North Korea’s fifth attempt. She denied Pak Il Sim, sealing the European side’s 4-3 triumph and earning the tournament’s Golden Glove.
Individual awards underlined Spain’s influence across the competition. Comendador’s six-goal campaign brought her the Golden Boot, alongside the Bronze Ball, while Domínguez was named the tournament’s best player. North Korea’s Ri Kuk-Hyang finished second in the Golden Ball voting.
The title is Spain’s second at this level, following their 3-1 win over Japan in Costa Rica in 2022. Spain had also reached the 2018 final, losing 3-1 to Japan, meaning they have appeared in three of the last four finals.
Only North Korea, Germany and the United States have more Women’s Under-20 World Cup titles, with three each. Spain now sit just behind that trio after another composed finish on the international stage.
