STATE OF PLAY – Where do we stand at U20 WWC 2026 after matchday 2?
Our writer on the spot in Poland, Sylvain Jamet, updates us on the state of play in the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup 2026 right now, complete with surprises and breakout performances.
There are 24 teams in the tournament and eight will be eliminated with the last 16 being the first round of the knock-out stage. Top two and the best four 3rd-placed teams qualify.
Entering the final day, the following teams are already through, all with 6 points: Poland who have won Group A, Brazil in Group B. Italy in Group D, North Korea in Group E and Spain in Group F are also through.
Interestingly among those five teams with 6 points only Poland is guaranteed to win their group as there is only one team with 3 points in Group A (Argentina) and Poland defeated them on the opening day. According to the rules, head-to-head is the first tiebreaker, so Poland have won Group A.
Group C is the tightest group with France leading with four points, Ecuador and Ghana with 3 points each, while South Korea have only one point.
The third-placed teams ranking is as follows, with the top four of 6 going through. There are big names like the USA, Nigeria, Mexico or Canada in there.
All those teams with one point know that they really need a win to finish in the top four third placed teams.
Regarding England, they need to avoid defeat against Brazil to guarantee qualification for the last 16 – perhaps relying on breakout star Rachel Maltby (above, centre) again. Finishing second they would play the runner-up from Group F, which is likely to be China unless China beat Spain.
Should they beat Brazil and it will be a tough game, they would win group B and set up a game against a third placed team from group ACD.
Should they lose against Brazil and Canada defeat Tanzania, England could finish as one of the best third placed teams and therefore playing the winner of Group C or Group D.
Among the notable surprises, the USA who are missing a lot of players – like France or England – are in a tough spot. They are third in their group behind Italy and Japan. They will play the supposedly weakest team in their Group New-Zealand and need a win to guarantee being in the top four best third placed teams, and will also hope that Italy beat Japan by a large score to have a chance to finish runner-up in the group.
Photos: England Football
