Spain needed 120 minutes, five penalties and two saves from Laia López to settle the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup final. On September 27, 2026, in Łódź, Poland, Spain and defending champion DPR Korea finished extra time at 0-0 before the Spanish goalkeeper stopped two kicks in a 4-3 shootout victory.
The result gave Spain its second title in the competition. It also ended DPR Korea’s remarkable defensive run: the Asian side had reached the final without conceding a goal. The official FIFA match report records the scoreless draw and Spain’s 4-3 shootout win, while the tournament schedule confirms the final was played at Stadion Miejski ŁKS Łódź.
A final controlled by the goalkeepers
Spain had more of the ball and created the clearer chances, but Pak Ju Gyong repeatedly protected DPR Korea’s clean sheet. Alba Cerrato was denied in an early one-on-one, and Pak continued to frustrate Spain after halftime and in extra time. At the other end, López made a vital save from Ho Kyong before the break after a Spanish defensive error.
The match therefore became a duel of patience. Cadena SER’s match account describes how Pak kept Spain out through regulation and extra time, including another one-on-one save against Marisa García late in the additional period. Neither team could find a goal, despite 120 minutes of pressure and counterattacks.
Then López took over. DPR Korea scored its first penalty, and Marisa García answered for Spain. On the next Korean attempt, López read the kick and dived to her left. She later stopped another penalty to close the shootout at 4-3 and trigger Spain’s celebration.
A rematch with history
The finish carried extra meaning for several Spanish players. Two years earlier, DPR Korea had beaten Spain on penalties in the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup final. Many members of this U-20 group had lived through that defeat. This time the same kind of ending produced the opposite result.
El País reported that López stopped two of DPR Korea’s five penalties and that both finalists arrived with perfect records. DPR Korea had won every match without conceding; Spain had also won every game, allowing only one goal before the final.
The victory was formally celebrated the next day in Madrid. In its official reception report, the Spanish federation called the trophy Spain’s second U-20 world championship. Player Irune Dorado said the group felt football owed them one after the 2024 U-17 final.
That is what makes this more than a routine shootout story. Spain did not score during open play, DPR Korea did not concede during open play, and two elite young teams remained separated by almost nothing. The title ultimately turned on López recognizing two shots quickly enough to turn an old disappointment into a new world championship.
Sources and further reading
- FIFA final match report and highlights
- Cadena SER match report
- El País match report
- RFEF reception for the champions
