Nigeria, Brazil and USA set to make 2026 U-20 World Cup history

Nigeria’s Falconets, Brazil and the United States are set to create a new FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup record in 12 days. The three nations have appeared at all 11 previous editions and will become the only teams to feature in all 12 when the 2026 tournament begins in Poland.

Nigeria’s record includes two runners-up finishes, in 2010 and 2014, while the Falconets also reached the semi-finals in 2012. Their continued presence was secured after a difficult African qualifying campaign that ended with a 3-2 aggregate win over Malawi.

The Falconets won the first leg 2-0 in Ikenne before losing the return match 2-1 in Lilongwe on 9 May. Before that, they had eliminated Rwanda 5-0 on aggregate and Senegal 3-2 on aggregate, extending Nigeria’s participation record in the competition.

Head coach Moses Aduku’s squad is due to leave Abuja on Monday after several weeks of preparations. The team has worked on fitness, tactics and organisation and will play warm-up matches against hosts Poland and Korea Republic after arriving in the country.

The 12th edition will run from 5 to 27 September across Bielsko-Biała, Katowice, Łódź and Sosnowiec. Nigeria were drawn in Group F with Spain, China PR and New Caledonia, beginning against Spain at Arena Sosnowiec on 7 September.

China PR will be Nigeria’s second opponent at the same venue three days later, while New Caledonia await at Stadion Miejski ŁKS in Łódź on 13 September. Spain won the 2026 UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship and will provide the opening test for Aduku’s side.

The Korea Republic friendly will also revisit a recent meeting between the teams. Nigeria defeated them 1-0 at the 2024 U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia through Flourish Sabastine’s goal, before Japan ended the Falconets’ run in the round of 16.