Falconets face tough draw at 2026 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup group stage
Nigeria’s Falconets have been handed a challenging draw for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after being placed in Group F alongside Spain, China PR, and debutants New Caledonia.
The draw ceremony for the 12th edition of the tournament took place on Friday in Łódź, Poland, with the competition set to run from September 5 to 27, 2026.
The Falconets, who remain one of Africa’s most successful teams at the tournament with two silver medals, will battle former world champions Spain, seasoned Asian side China PR and first-time participants New Caledonia for a place in the knockout stage.
Nigeria will be aiming to improve on recent outings and make another deep run at the global showpiece as they prepare to face a Spanish side widely regarded as one of the favourites for the title.
Hosts Poland were drawn in Group A alongside Mexico, Argentina and fellow African representatives Benin Republic, while defending champions Korea DPR headline Group E with Colombia, Costa Rica and Portugal.
Group B features Brazil, England, Canada and Tanzania, as France, Korea Republic, Ghana and Ecuador make up Group C. In Group D, Japan, the United States, New Zealand and Italy will battle for qualification spots.
The 2026 edition will also mark a historic milestone for Poland, as it hosts a major global women’s football tournament for the first time. Matches will be staged across four cities — Bielsko-Biała, Katowice, Łódź and Sosnowiec.
This year’s competition will also welcome several debutants, including Benin Republic, Tanzania, Ecuador, New Caledonia, and Portugal, adding fresh excitement to the tournament.
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