FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup begins August 10; Showcase of women’s football’s future stars
At the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, sixteen teams will compete: host Costa Rica, the United States, Mexico, and Canada, Australia, Korea Republic, and Japan from Asia, Ghana and Nigeria from Africa, Spain, Germany, France, and the Netherlands from Europe, New Zealand from Oceania, and Brazil and Colombia from South America.
This year’s U-20 Women’s World Cup features no first-time participation, and 11 countries return from the previous event in 2018. Costa Rica, Canada, Australia, Korea Republic, and Colombia were the five countries who did not compete in 2018.
The 16 countries were divided into four groups of four teams each. The top two finishers in each group will proceed to the quarterfinals, which will take place on Saturday, August 20 and Sunday, August 21. The victors of those matches will proceed to Thursday’s semifinals. The championship and third-place match will take place on August 28. All matches will be played in the Estadio Nacional in San José and the Estadio Morera Soto in Alajuela, which are only around 12 miles apart.
The #U20WWC is here! 🏆
All 32 matches available for free on FIFA+#VamosJuntas— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) August 9, 2022
FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) organises the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. The event is designed for female national teams under the age of 20. The competition is held every two years. The inaugural competition was contested in 2002 under the name FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship, with a maximum age limit of 19.
The age restriction was raised to 20 in 2006, and the tournament was renamed World Cup beginning with the 2008 edition. Due to the Covid-19 epidemic, the 2020 edition was postponed and then cancelled. The tournament’s most recent edition took place in 2018, with Japan lifting the trophy and retaining the championship.
The U20 Women’s World Cup, then, offers the best look into the game’s future and the athletes who will propel it ahead.
Players to watch
- Japan: Shinomi Koyama, Maika Hamano
- USA: Jaedyn Shaw, Olivia Moultrie
- Germany: Sophie Weidauer, Lisanne Graewe
- Netherlands: Sanne Koopman, Ella Peddemors
- Australia: Hana Lowry ,Sarah Hunter
- Brazil: Tarciane, Vitoria Yaya
- Canada: Zoe Burns, Kaila Novak
- Colombia: Gisela Robledo, Ingrid Guerra
- Costa Rica: Maria Paula Salas, Alexandra Pinell
- France: Alice Sombath, Vicki Becho
- Ghana: Susan Duah, Evelyn Badu
- South Korea: Garam Chun, Suin Lee
- Mexico: Jana Gutierrez, Natalia Mauleon
- New Zealand: Kate Taylor, Alyssa Whinham
- Nigeria: Flourish Sabastine, Esther Onyenezide
- Spain: Andrea Medina, Inma Gabarro
