FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2026 Groups
The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2026 kicks off in Poland on 5 September, and the group stage is where every team’s journey begins. Before a ball is kicked in the knockout rounds, 24 young national teams must fight their way through six tough groups. Get the group stage right, and a team’s tournament dream stays alive. Get it wrong, and the trip home comes early.
This guide brings together everything officially confirmed about the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2026 groups: the complete group list, the draw result, fixtures, kickoff times, venues, and the rules that decide who advances. Every fact here is checked against FIFA’s own announcements. Where something has not been confirmed, this article says so clearly instead of guessing.
What Are the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2026 Groups?
The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2026 groups were confirmed at the official draw on 15 May 2026 in Łódź, Poland. There are six groups (A to F) of four teams each.
Group A: Poland, Mexico, Argentina, Benin.
Group B: Brazil, England, Canada, Tanzania.
Group C: France, Korea Republic, Ghana, Ecuador.
Group D: Japan, USA, New Zealand, Italy.
Group E: Korea DPR, Colombia, Costa Rica, Portugal.
Group F: Spain, Nigeria, China PR, New Caledonia.
FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2026 Groups Overview
| Detail | Confirmed Information |
| Tournament | FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Poland 2026 |
| Edition | 12th edition |
| Host country | Poland |
| Host cities | Bielsko-Biała, Katowice, Łódź, Sosnowiec |
| Tournament dates | 5–27 September 2026 |
| Number of teams | 24 |
| Number of groups | 6 (Groups A–F) |
| Teams per group | 4 |
| Group draw date | 15 May 2026 |
| Draw location | EC1 Cultural Center, Łódź |
| Defending champions | Korea DPR (North Korea) |
This will be the 12th FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and the first FIFA women’s tournament ever hosted in Poland. It is also the second time overall that Poland has hosted a FIFA competition, after staging the men’s FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2019. Twenty-four teams from all six confederations — AFC, CAF, Concacaf, CONMEBOL, OFC, and UEFA — will compete for the trophy, with six nations making their tournament debut: hosts Poland, plus Portugal, New Caledonia, Ecuador, Tanzania, and Benin.
Note on tournament stability: In late July 2026, a dispute between FIFA and UEFA over a proposed commercial restructuring briefly put several FIFA competitions in doubt, including this tournament. UEFA’s 55 member associations voted on 30 July to boycott FIFA events over the plan. The following day, 31 July, the Polish Football Association confirmed the tournament was expected to go ahead as normal with no UEFA teams withdrawing, and FIFA scrapped the proposal that same day. As of this article’s last check, the tournament, groups, and schedule below stand as officially confirmed.
👉 See our full FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Teams guide for team-by-team profiles.
FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2026 Group Draw
The group draw is the event where FIFA randomly places the 24 qualified teams into the six groups. It decides which nations a team must beat, draw, or avoid to reach the knockout stage.
When and where: The draw took place on Friday, 15 May 2026, at 16:00 local time (CET) at the EC1 Cultural Center in Łódź, Poland. It was streamed live on FIFA+, TikTok, and YouTube.
How teams were allocated: FIFA placed the 24 qualified teams into four pots of six. Host nation Poland was automatically placed in Pot 1. The other 23 teams were sorted into pots using a ranking system based on results from the last five editions of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup (2014, 2016, 2018, 2022, and 2024), with more recent tournaments given greater weight.
Official pot allocation:
| Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4 |
| Poland (hosts) | USA | Ghana | Italy |
| Japan | Nigeria | Canada | Portugal |
| Spain | Colombia | New Zealand | Ecuador |
| Korea DPR | Mexico | Argentina | Benin |
| Brazil | Korea Republic | China PR | Tanzania |
| France | England | Costa Rica | New Caledonia |
Draw procedure: For each group, FIFA drew a team ball first, then a separate ball to decide that team’s position (1 to 4) within the group. One team was drawn from each pot in turn, so every group ended up with exactly one team from Pot 1, one from Pot 2, one from Pot 3, and one from Pot 4.
Confederation protection rule: FIFA’s general principle is to avoid placing more than one team from the same confederation in the same group, wherever this is possible given the pot structure.
Host placement: As hosts, Poland was pre-assigned to Pot 1 and then drawn into a group position through the normal draw process, landing in Group A.
Complete FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2026 Groups
Here is the full, officially confirmed group list for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2026.
| Group | Team 1 | Team 2 | Team 3 | Team 4 |
| Group A | Poland | Mexico | Argentina | Benin |
| Group B | Brazil | England | Canada | Tanzania |
| Group C | France | Korea Republic | Ghana | Ecuador |
| Group D | Japan | USA | New Zealand | Italy |
| Group E | Korea DPR | Colombia | Costa Rica | Portugal |
| Group F | Spain | Nigeria | China PR | New Caledonia |
👉 For kickoff details, see the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Schedule.
Group A
Teams: Poland, Mexico, Argentina, Benin
Confederations: Poland (UEFA), Mexico (Concacaf), Argentina (CONMEBOL), Benin (CAF)
Previous tournament history: This is Poland’s tournament debut at any level, as hosts. Mexico and Argentina both have previous FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup appearances, having featured in earlier editions of the competition. Benin is a first-time participant, making its first-ever appearance at a FIFA women’s tournament of any kind.
Group fixtures:
| Date | Match | Kickoff Time (Local, CET) | Stadium | City |
| Sat 5 Sept 2026 | Poland vs Argentina | 13:00 | Arena Katowice | Katowice |
| Sat 5 Sept 2026 | Mexico vs Benin | 16:00 | Arena Katowice | Katowice |
| To be confirmed | Benin vs Poland | To be confirmed | To be confirmed | To be confirmed |
| To be confirmed | Argentina vs Mexico | To be confirmed | To be confirmed | To be confirmed |
| To be confirmed | Matchday 3 fixtures | To be confirmed | To be confirmed | To be confirmed |
Matchday 1 kickoff times and venues above are officially confirmed by FIFA. Full matchday 2 and 3 dates, kickoff times, and exact venue assignments were not independently verifiable at the time of writing and are marked “To be confirmed.” Check FIFA.com closer to the tournament for the complete confirmed schedule.
Current standings: The group stage has not started. All teams currently sit level on 0 points. Standings will update once matches begin on 5 September 2026.
Group B
Teams: Brazil, England, Canada, Tanzania
Confederations: Brazil (CONMEBOL), England (UEFA), Canada (Concacaf), Tanzania (CAF)
Previous tournament history: Brazil and England are established names in FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup history with multiple previous appearances. Canada has also featured in past editions. Tanzania is a debutant, appearing at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup for the first time.
Group fixtures:
| Date | Match | Kickoff Time (Local, CET) | Stadium | City |
| Sat 5 Sept 2026 | Brazil vs Tanzania | 13:00 | Bielsko-Biała Stadium | Bielsko-Biała |
| Sat 5 Sept 2026 | Canada vs England | 16:00 | Bielsko-Biała Stadium | Bielsko-Biała |
| To be confirmed | Matchday 2 fixtures | To be confirmed | To be confirmed | To be confirmed |
| To be confirmed | Matchday 3 fixtures | To be confirmed | To be confirmed | To be confirmed |
Matchday 1 details above are officially confirmed. Remaining matchday dates and times are marked “To be confirmed” pending full schedule verification.
Current standings: Group stage not yet underway. All teams level on 0 points as of this writing.
Group C
Teams: France, Korea Republic, Ghana, Ecuador
Confederations: France (UEFA), Korea Republic (AFC), Ghana (CAF), Ecuador (CONMEBOL)
Previous tournament history: France has hosted this competition before (2018) and has multiple prior appearances. Korea Republic and Ghana are both experienced at this level, with Ghana having featured in the group stage across several past editions. Ecuador is a first-time participant.
Group fixtures:
| Date | Match | Kickoff Time (Local, CET) | Stadium | City |
| Sun 6 Sept 2026 | France vs Korea Republic | 13:00 | Arena Sosnowiec | Sosnowiec |
| Sun 6 Sept 2026 | Ecuador vs Ghana | 16:00 | Arena Sosnowiec | Sosnowiec |
| To be confirmed | Matchday 2 fixtures | To be confirmed | To be confirmed | To be confirmed |
| To be confirmed | Matchday 3 fixtures | To be confirmed | To be confirmed | To be confirmed |
Matchday 1 details above are officially confirmed. Remaining fixtures marked “To be confirmed.”
Current standings: Group stage not yet underway. All teams level on 0 points as of this writing.
Group D
Teams: Japan, USA, New Zealand, Italy
Confederations: Japan (AFC), USA (Concacaf), New Zealand (OFC), Italy (UEFA)
Previous tournament history: Japan is one of the most successful nations in this competition’s history, having won the title in 2018 and finished in the top four in four of the last five editions. The USA is a joint-record three-time champion. New Zealand is making its 10th consecutive appearance at this tournament. Italy also has previous tournament experience.
This is the USA’s fourth meeting with Japan at this level of competition, having lost all three previous encounters.
Group fixtures:
| Date | Match | Kickoff Time (Local, CET) | Stadium | City |
| Sun 6 Sept 2026 | Japan vs New Zealand | 13:00 | Stadion Miejski ŁKS Łódź | Łódź |
| To be confirmed | Japan vs USA | To be confirmed | Stadion Miejski ŁKS Łódź | Łódź |
| To be confirmed | Italy vs Japan | To be confirmed | Stadion Miejski ŁKS Łódź | Łódź |
| To be confirmed | Remaining matchday fixtures | To be confirmed | To be confirmed | To be confirmed |
Matchday 1 opening fixture and venue confirmed by FIFA. Exact kickoff times for later matchdays are marked “To be confirmed.”
Current standings: Group stage not yet underway. All teams level on 0 points as of this writing.
Group E
Teams: Korea DPR, Colombia, Costa Rica, Portugal
Confederations: Korea DPR (AFC), Colombia (CONMEBOL), Costa Rica (Concacaf), Portugal (UEFA)
Previous tournament history: Korea DPR (North Korea) are the reigning champions, having won the 2024 edition in Colombia for a joint-record third title. Colombia and Costa Rica both have previous tournament experience, with Costa Rica having hosted the competition in 2022. Portugal is a debutant nation.
Group fixtures:
| Date | Match | Kickoff Time (Local, CET) | Stadium | City |
| To be confirmed | Korea DPR vs Costa Rica | 15:00 | Stadion Miejski ŁKS Łódź | Łódź |
| To be confirmed | Colombia vs Portugal | 18:00 | Stadion Miejski ŁKS Łódź | Łódź |
| To be confirmed | Korea DPR vs Portugal | To be confirmed | Stadion Miejski ŁKS Łódź | Łódź |
| To be confirmed | Costa Rica vs Colombia | To be confirmed | Stadion Miejski ŁKS Łódź | Łódź |
| To be confirmed | Remaining matchday fixtures | To be confirmed | To be confirmed | To be confirmed |
Fixture pairings for this group have been reported. Exact match dates for these fixtures could not be independently confirmed at the time of writing and are marked “To be confirmed.”
Current standings: Group stage not yet underway. All teams level on 0 points as of this writing.
Group F
Teams: Spain, Nigeria, China PR, New Caledonia
Confederations: Spain (UEFA), Nigeria (CAF), China PR (AFC), New Caledonia (OFC)
Previous tournament history: Spain has multiple prior appearances at this tournament. Nigeria and China PR are both experienced nations at this level. New Caledonia is a first-time participant, making its first-ever appearance at a FIFA women’s tournament.
Group fixtures:
| Date | Match | Kickoff Time (Local, CET) | Stadium | City |
| To be confirmed | Spain vs New Caledonia | 15:00 | Arena Sosnowiec | Sosnowiec |
| To be confirmed | China PR vs Nigeria | 18:00 | Arena Sosnowiec | Sosnowiec |
| To be confirmed | New Caledonia vs China PR | To be confirmed | Arena Sosnowiec | Sosnowiec |
| To be confirmed | Spain vs Nigeria | To be confirmed | Arena Sosnowiec | Sosnowiec |
| To be confirmed | Remaining matchday fixtures | To be confirmed | To be confirmed | To be confirmed |
Fixture pairings for this group have been reported. Exact match dates could not be independently confirmed at the time of writing and are marked “To be confirmed.”
Current standings: Group stage not yet underway. All teams level on 0 points as of this writing.
FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Group Fixtures
Below is a summary of the officially confirmed opening matchday fixtures. This table will be updated as more official kickoff times and venues are confirmed for matchdays two and three.
| Group | Date | Match | Kickoff Time | Stadium | City |
| A | Sat 5 Sept 2026 | Poland vs Argentina | 13:00 | Arena Katowice | Katowice |
| B | Sat 5 Sept 2026 | Brazil vs Tanzania | 13:00 | Bielsko-Biała Stadium | Bielsko-Biała |
| A | Sat 5 Sept 2026 | Mexico vs Benin | 16:00 | Arena Katowice | Katowice |
| B | Sat 5 Sept 2026 | Canada vs England | 16:00 | Bielsko-Biała Stadium | Bielsko-Biała |
| C | Sun 6 Sept 2026 | France vs Korea Republic | 13:00 | Arena Sosnowiec | Sosnowiec |
| D | Sun 6 Sept 2026 | Japan vs New Zealand | 13:00 | Stadion Miejski ŁKS Łódź | Łódź |
| C | Sun 6 Sept 2026 | Ecuador vs Ghana | 16:00 | Arena Sosnowiec | Sosnowiec |
Not yet announced: Full kickoff times, exact dates, and venues for the remainder of matchday two and all of matchday three across all six groups. Fixtures for Groups E and F have been reported in terms of matchups and stadiums but not confirmed exact dates.
👉 Planning to watch? See FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup TV Channels and FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Live Stream for broadcast information.
FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Group Standings
Because the group stage does not begin until 5 September 2026, there are currently no results to report. Once matches kick off, standings tables like the one below will fill in for each group.
| Group | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | GF | GA | GD | Points |
| A | Poland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| A | Argentina | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| A | Mexico | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| A | Benin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
This table shows Group A as an example. The same blank structure applies to Groups B through F until matches are played.
How points work in the group stage:
- A win is worth 3 points
- A draw is worth 1 point for each team
- A loss is worth 0 points
Teams are ranked in the group table by total points, and the standings update automatically after every match.
How Teams Qualify From the Group Stage
Twenty-four teams enter the group stage, but only 16 make it through to the knockout rounds. Here is how a team punches its ticket.
- Group winners: The team finishing first in each of the six groups advances automatically. That is 6 teams.
- Group runners-up: The team finishing second in each group also advances automatically. That is another 6 teams.
- Best third-placed teams: The four best third-place finishers, ranked across all six groups, take the remaining spots. That is 4 teams.
In total, 16 of the 24 teams move on to the knockout stage: the Round of 16. This is only the second time in the competition’s history that the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup has featured a Round of 16 phase, reflecting the tournament’s expansion to 24 teams.
The eight teams finishing bottom of their group, along with the two lowest-ranked third-place teams, are eliminated after the group stage.
FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Group Stage Tiebreakers
When two or more teams finish level on points in the same group, FIFA applies a set order of criteria to separate them. FIFA has not published a standalone tiebreaker regulations document specific to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Poland 2026 that this article could independently verify at the time of writing. What follows is the standard tiebreaker framework FIFA has used across recent editions of its women’s world championships, provided as general guidance rather than a confirmed 2026-specific ruling. Readers should treat the official FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2026 Regulations, once published, as the final word.
The typical order FIFA has applied at comparable tournaments is:
- Points earned across all three group matches
- Goal difference across all group matches (goals scored minus goals conceded)
- Goals scored across all group matches
- Head-to-head result between the tied teams, where applicable
- Fair play record (a points system based on yellow and red cards, with fewer cards ranking higher)
- Drawing of lots, only if every other criterion remains level
For the four best third-placed teams competing for knockout spots, the same general principles (points, goal difference, goals scored, fair play) are typically used to rank third-place finishers against one another across all six groups, since these teams do not play each other directly.
Important: Until FIFA formally confirms the exact tiebreaker order for this specific tournament, treat the sequence above as a general guide rather than a locked-in rule. This section will be updated once the official regulations are verified.
Group Matches to Watch
The following is analysis and opinion, not official FIFA information.
A few group-stage matchups stand out based on team history and past tournament form.
Japan vs USA (Group D) carries real weight. Japan has won this competition once, finished runner-up in back-to-back editions, and reached the top four in four of the last five tournaments. The USA has never beaten Japan in three previous meetings at this level, having lost in the 2016 third-place match, the 2018 group stage, and again in the 2022 group stage. A fourth meeting adds another chapter to a rivalry the USA is still trying to break.
Korea DPR vs Portugal (Group E) brings the defending champions up against a tournament debutant. Korea DPR arrives as a joint-record three-time winner after lifting the trophy in Colombia in 2024, while Portugal is playing at this level for the first time.
Poland vs Argentina (Group A) opens the tournament itself. As hosts, Poland carries the weight of a home crowd in their first-ever appearance at this competition, against an Argentina side with more tournament experience.
Groups to Watch
This is analysis based on officially confirmed teams and their tournament history, not a prediction.
Group D stands out for its concentration of pedigree. It contains Japan (2018 champions, four-time top-four finisher in the last five editions) and the USA (joint-record three-time champions) in the same group, alongside New Zealand, playing in its 10th straight tournament, and Italy. With two of the most consistently strong nations in the competition’s history drawn together, only one can win the group outright.
Group E is notable for pairing reigning champions Korea DPR with three teams at very different stages: Colombia and Costa Rica bring tournament experience, while Portugal is a complete debutant. How quickly Portugal adapts to this level could shape the group.
The remaining groups (A, B, C, and F) each mix experienced nations with first-time participants, which is typical of an expanded 24-team format. Groups B and F feature multiple debutant or newly-promoted nations (Tanzania, New Caledonia), which tends to make early results harder to predict.
Not yet announced: Whether any group will be labelled a “Group of Death” is a subjective call typically made once teams have played competitive matches. This article does not apply that label without match-based evidence to support it.
How the Groups Lead to the Knockout Stage
The path from the group stage to the trophy follows this structure, based on the officially confirmed 24-team, six-group format:
Group Stage → Round of 16 → Quarter-finals → Semi-finals → Final
- The group stage runs across matchdays from 5 September, with all 24 teams playing three matches each.
- The Round of 16 brings together the 16 teams that qualify (6 group winners, 6 runners-up, and 4 best third-placed teams).
- The tournament proceeds through the quarter-finals and semi-finals as a single-elimination knockout bracket.
- The competition closes with the Final on 27 September 2026 in Łódź, alongside a third-place match.
Not yet announced: Specific Round of 16 pairings, since these depend on final group standings that will not be known until the group stage concludes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2026 groups? There are six groups of four teams each, confirmed at the official draw on 15 May 2026. Group A: Poland, Mexico, Argentina, Benin. Group B: Brazil, England, Canada, Tanzania. Group C: France, Korea Republic, Ghana, Ecuador. Group D: Japan, USA, New Zealand, Italy. Group E: Korea DPR, Colombia, Costa Rica, Portugal. Group F: Spain, Nigeria, China PR, New Caledonia.
When is the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup group draw? The group draw already took place on 15 May 2026 at the EC1 Cultural Center in Łódź, Poland.
How many teams are in each group? Four teams per group.
How many groups are there? Six groups, labelled Group A through Group F.
Which teams are in Group A? Poland, Mexico, Argentina, and Benin.
Which teams are in Group B? Brazil, England, Canada, and Tanzania.
How do teams qualify from the group stage? The top two teams in each group qualify automatically. The four best third-placed teams across all six groups take the remaining spots, for a total of 16 teams advancing to the Round of 16.
How many points does a win give? A win is worth 3 points, a draw is worth 1 point, and a loss is worth 0 points.
What happens if teams finish level on points? FIFA applies a set of tiebreaker criteria, typically starting with goal difference, then goals scored, then head-to-head result, followed by fair play record and, if still level, a drawing of lots. The exact confirmed order for this specific 2026 tournament has not been independently verified at the time of writing — see the Tiebreakers section above.
Where can I see FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup standings? Standings will be available on FIFA’s official tournament pages once matches begin on 5 September 2026, and will be tracked in our FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Standings guide.
Where can I find group fixtures? The confirmed opening fixtures are listed in this article. For the complete, continuously updated schedule, see the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Schedule.
Which teams are favorites to win their groups? This has not been officially determined and is not something this article predicts. Based on tournament history alone, Japan (Group D) and Korea DPR (Group E) enter with strong recent records, but group outcomes are decided on the pitch.
When does the group stage start? 5 September 2026.
When does the group stage end? The exact closing date of the group stage has not been independently confirmed at the time of writing. The overall tournament runs through 27 September 2026, with the Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final following the group stage.
What happens after the group stage? The 16 qualifying teams (6 group winners, 6 runners-up, 4 best third-placed teams) move into the Round of 16, followed by the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final on 27 September 2026 in Łódź.
Final Thoughts
The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2026 group stage sets the stage for a 24-team tournament spread across four Polish host cities. The groups are locked in, several opening fixtures and kickoff times are confirmed, and the format is clear: six groups, four teams each, with the top two from every group plus the four best third-placed sides advancing to a 16-team Round of 16.
What is not yet fully public — the remaining matchday dates and kickoff times, live standings, and the precise tiebreaker regulations for this edition — will fill in as FIFA releases more official information in the weeks before kickoff on 5 September. For the latest confirmed details, check FIFA’s official tournament pages directly, and revisit this guide, which will be updated as new information is verified.