FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
The FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup is an international association football tournament, organized by FIFA, for national teams of women under the age of 20. The tournament is held in even-numbered years. It was first conducted in 2002 as the FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship with an upper age limit of 19. In 2006, the age limit was raised to the current 20. The event was renamed as a World Cup effective with the 2008 competition, making its name consistent with FIFA's other worldwide competitions for national teams.
Starting with the 2010 edition, tournaments held in years immediately preceding the FIFA Women's World Cup are awarded as part of the bidding process for the Women's World Cup. In those years, the U-20 Women's World Cup serves as a dry run for the host nation of the Women's World Cup, a role similar to that of the former FIFA Confederations Cup in the men's game.
The current champion is Japan, which won its first title at the 2018 tournament in France.
Qualification
Each continental governing body has its own qualifying tournament, but Africa does not determine a champion.| Confederation | Qualifier |
| AFC | AFC U-19 Women's Championship |
| CAF | African U-20 Women's World Cup qualification |
| CONCACAF | CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship |
| CONMEBOL | South American Under-20 Women's Football Championship |
| OFC | OFC U-20 Women's Championship |
| UEFA | UEFA Women's U-19 Championship |
History
2002
The first women's world championship at the youth level, held as the 2002 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship, with an age limit of 19, was hosted by Canada. The final, held at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, drew a surprisingly large crowd of 47,000 to watch the hosts play the United States. The US defeated Canada 1–0 on a golden goal by Lindsay Tarpley. Canada's Christine Sinclair was the adidas Golden Ball recipient, as tournament MVP, and the Golden Shoe winner.2004
The 2004 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship was held in Thailand. For the second time in a row, the current holders of the adult World Cup, Germany, won the youth competition. The Golden Ball went to Brazilian star, Marta, while for the second time the Golden Boot went to a Canadian, Brittany Timko.2006
FIFA raised the women's youth championship age limit to 20 to match the men's, beginning with the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship, held in Russia from 17 August through 3 September.The competition was held in four Moscow stadiums and one in St. Petersburg.
Korea DPR won the final 5–0 over China PR.
2008
The 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship was held in Chile, from 20 November to 7 December 2008.Six years after winning their first championship at the youth level in 2002, the United States reclaimed the trophy with a 2–1 win over defending champions Korea DPR. The Golden Ball and the Golden Shoe went to Sydney Leroux of the United States.
2010
The 2010 edition of the tournament was held in Germany from 13 July to 1 August 2010. The host nation defeated Nigeria in the final to claim its second championship. It was the first time that an African nation had advanced as far as the semifinals. It was also the first tournament in which four different confederations were represented in the semifinals. The Golden Ball and Golden Shoe awards both went to Alexandra Popp of Germany.2012
The 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup was played in Japan from 19 August to 8 September, after initially having a hosting bid from Vietnam withdrawn and a bid from Uzbekistan rejected. The Golden Ball award went to Dzsenifer Marozsán of Germany and Golden Shoe award went to Kim Un-hwa of North Korea.2014
The 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup was held in Canada from 5–25 August 2014, who reprised its role as host after a Zimbabwean bid withdrew leaving the Canadian bid unopposed. The Golden Ball and Golden Shoe awards both went to Asisat Oshoala of Nigeria.2016
The 2016 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup was expected to be held in South Africa, but due to the country's withdrawal, a new host was chosen on 19 March 2015, and it was Papua New Guinea.2018
The 2018 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup was held in France from 5–24 August 2018; a year later France would host the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. The Golden Ball and Golden Shoe awards both went to Patricia Guijarro of Spain.2021
The 2020 edition was initially to be hosted jointly by Costa Rica and Panama in August 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic it has been postponed to January 2021, to be solely hosted by Costa Rica. Due to having the highest COVID-19 cases and deaths in the region, Panama withdrew from hosting this event along with the 2022 Central American and Caribbean Games.Results
- Key:
- * a.e.t. – after extra time
- * asdet – after sudden death extra time
- * PSO – after penalty shoot-out
Winners
Awards
- Source: FIFA
The topscorer award.
| Tournament | Winner | Goals |
| 2002 Canada | Christine Sinclair | 10 |
| 2004 Thailand | Brittany Timko | 7 |
| 2006 Russia | Ma Xiaoxu | 5 |
| 2008 Chile | Sydney Leroux | 5 |
| 2010 Germany | Alexandra Popp | 10 |
| 2012 Japan | Kim Un-hwa | 7 |
| 2014 Canada | Asisat Oshoala | 7 |
| 2016 Papua New Guinea | Mami Ueno | 5 |
| 2018 France | Patricia Guijarro | 6 |
| 2021 Costa Rica |
;Golden Ball
Awarded to the best player of the tournament.
| Tournament | Winner |
| 2002 Canada | Christine Sinclair |
| 2004 Thailand | Marta |
| 2006 Russia | Ma Xiaoxu |
| 2008 Chile | Sydney Leroux |
| 2010 Germany | Alexandra Popp |
| 2012 Japan | Dzsenifer Marozsán |
| 2014 Canada | Asisat Oshoala |
| 2016 Papua New Guinea | Hina Sugita |
| 2018 France | Patricia Guijarro |
| 2021 Costa Rica |
;Adidas Golden Glove
Awarded to the best goalkeeper.
| Tournament | Winner |
| 2008 Chile | Alyssa Naeher |
| 2010 Germany | Bianca Henninger |
| 2012 Japan | Laura Benkarth |
| 2014 Canada | Meike Kämper |
| 2016 Papua New Guinea | Mylène Chavas |
| 2018 France | Sandy MacIver |
| 2021 Costa Rica |
;Fair Play Award
| Tournament | Winner |
| 2002 Canada | |
| 2004 Thailand | |
| 2006 Russia | |
| 2008 Chile | |
| 2010 Germany | |
| 2012 Japan | |
| 2014 Canada | |
| 2016 Papua New Guinea | |
| 2018 France | |
| 2021 Costa Rica |
Comprehensive team results in each World Cup
;Legend- — Champions
- — Runners-up
- — Third place
- — Fourth place
- QF — Quarter-finals
- GS — Group stage
- — Did not qualify
- — Did not enter / Withdrew / To be determined
- — Country did not exist or national team was inactive
- — Hosts
- q — Qualified for upcoming tournament
| Team | 2002 | 2004 | 2006 | 2008 | 2010 | 2012 | 2014 | 2016 | 2018 | 2021 | Total |
| • | • | GS | GS | • | GS | • | • | • | • | 3 | |
| QF | QF | GS | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 3 | |
| 4th | 4th | 3rd | QF | GS | GS | GS | QF | GS | 9 | ||
| 2nd | QF | GS | GS | • | GS | QF | GS | • | • | 7 | |
| • | • | • | GS | • | • | • | • | • | • | 1 | |
| • | 2nd | 2nd | GS | • | GS | GS | • | GS | • | 6 | |
| GS | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 1 | |
| • | • | • | • | 4th | • | • | • | • | 1 | ||
| • | • | • | • | GS | • | GS | • | • | q | 3 | |
| QF | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 1 | |
| • | • | GS | GS | • | • | • | • | • | • | 2 | |
| QF | • | • | QF | GS | • | GS | • | 3rd | • | 5 | |
| • | • | GS | • | • | • | GS | • | • | • | 2 | |
| GS | • | QF | 4th | GS | • | 3rd | 2nd | 4th | q | 8 | |
| 3rd | 1st | QF | 3rd | 1st | 2nd | 1st | QF | QF | q | 10 | |
| • | • | • | • | GS | GS | GS | GS | GS | 5 | ||
| • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | GS | • | 1 | |
| • | GS | • | • | • | GS | • | • | • | • | 2 | |
| QF | • | • | QF | GS | 3rd | • | 3rd | 1st | q | 7 | |
| GS | • | GS | GS | QF | QF | GS | QF | GS | q | 9 | |
| • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | QF | q | 2 | |
| • | • | GS | GS | GS | GS | QF | GS | GS | q | 8 | |
| GS | QF | QF | QF | 2nd | 4th | 2nd | GS | QF | 9 | ||
| • | • | 1st | 2nd | QF | QF | 4th | 1st | QF | q | 8 | |
| • | • | • | GS | • | QF | • | • | • | • | 2 | |
| • | • | • | • | • | • | • | GS | • | • | 1 | |
| • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | q | 1 | |
| • | • | • | • | • | • | GS | • | GS | • | 2 | |
| • | QF | QF | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 2 | |
| • | GS | • | • | 3rd | QF | QF | GS | • | q | 6 | |
| • | GS | • | • | • | • | • | QF | 2nd | q | 4 | |
| • | • | • | • | QF | • | • | GS | • | • | 2 | |
| • | • | GS | • | GS | GS | • | • | • | • | 3 | |
| • | GS | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 1 | |
| 1st | 3rd | 4th | 1st | QF | 1st | QF | 4th | GS | q | 10 | |
| • | • | • | • | • | • | • | GS | • | 1 |