Spain’s Under-20 women meet Brazil in the World Cup quarter-finals in Sosnowiec today, with a place in the last four at stake and an expected starting side now confirmed.
| Match | Round | Venue | Matchday update |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil v Spain | Women’s Under-20 World Cup quarter-final | Sosnowiec | Players began their warm-ups 30 minutes before kick-off |
Spain will begin with Laia López in goal; Noemí Bejarano, Silvia Cristóbal, Aïcha Camara and Noa Jiménez in defence; Peñalvo, Cristina Librán and Rosalía in midfield; and Celia Segura, Pau Comendador and Alba Cerrato across the forward line. Irune, who went off with discomfort during the last-16 win against Portugal, is fit enough for a place among the substitutes but does not start.
Spain’s quarter-final selection
The side goes into the tie with Noemí Bejarano, the Real Madrid full-back and one of Spain’s captains, stressing that collective strength will be decisive. “An Under-20 World Cup is not won by one player, but by a team,” she said before the Brazil meeting.
Brazil arrive with a goalkeeper whose route to this stage has already made an impact. Thais Lima was born in Lisbon but chose to represent Brazil in 2025, and she was Brazil’s key figure in their round-of-16 victory over the United States.
For Spain, the quarter-final is a test of depth as much as talent: a settled starting XI takes the field while Irune’s condition is managed from the bench, with Brazil standing between them and a World Cup semi-final.
