The Spain U20 World Cup success reinforces the great work of Liga F clubs' academies
Spain's national team won the U-20 Women's World Cup after defeating North Korea 0(4) - 0(3) on penalties. FC Barcelona, Real Madrid CF, Atlético de Madrid, Athletic Club, Deportivo Abanca, Real Sociedad, and Deportivo Alavés were all represented at the global tournament.
28 SEP 2026
The great work being carried out by the academies of Liga F Moeve clubs is bearing fruit with the senior Spain national team—who are World Champions, Nations League winners, and European Championship runners-up—and also with the youth ranks of La Roja, which has just lifted the U20 World Cup. A journey with a happy ending that kicked off on 7th September with a 2-0 victory over Nigeria on matchday one. On the second matchday of Group F, David Aznar's side secured an 11-0 win against New Caledonia to reach the Round of 16. The final match of the group stage ended in a 3-1 triumph over China. In the knockout rounds, La Roja did not concede a single goal, defeating Portugal 2-0 in the Round of 16, Brazil 1-0 in the quarter-finals, and Italy 2-0 in the semi-finals.
The final pitted them against North Korea, a familiar foe for seven internationals who had suffered a penalty shootout defeat in the U20 World Cup final back in 2024. This time, the coin landed in their favour, and Spain beat North Korea 0(4) - 0(3) on penalties. "I told them to stay calm, that two years ago football took an opportunity away from them and today football was going to give it back. That gave them confidence," stated David Aznar after a match in which Spain touched the sky once again by successfully defending their U20 Women's World Cup title. No fewer than seven Liga F Moeve clubs have been represented during this tournament. FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF were the two top-flight sides that contributed the most players to the squad, with five footballers each.
Defenders Noa Jiménez, Julia Torres, Aïcha Cámara, Carla Julià, and forward Rosalía Domínguez were the players currently featuring for the first team or the Barça youth academy. Meanwhile, Laia López, Silvia Cristóbal, Noemí Bejarano, Irune Dorado, and Pau Comendador were the Madrid players who took part in the U20 World Cup. All of them are registered in the senior squad of the capital club and have already accumulated minutes in the top tier. Atlético de Madrid, Athletic Club, and Deportivo Abanca are represented by two players each. In the case of the colchoneras, Natalia Peñalvo and Celia Segura (on loan from FC Barcelona) were crowned world champions, whilst Elene Gurtubay and Daniela Agote were the two leonas.
Elsewhere, Marisa García and Ainoa Gómez (on loan from FC Barcelona) did the same for Deportivo Abanca, while Real Sociedad—with Alazne Estensoro—and Deportivo Alavés—with Amaya García on loan from Real Madrid CF—were also represented at the tournament. The 21-player squad is completed by: Anna Álvarez (Levante UD), Cristina Librán (Juventus, who came through the Madrid CFF academy), and Alba Cerrato (Fiorentina, formerly of the Sevilla FC youth system). Individual awards also went the way of La Roja. Rosalía Domínguez, with 1 goal and 2 assists, won the Golden Ball of the tournament; Pau Comendador, with 6 strikes, claimed the Golden Boot; and Laia López received the Golden Glove after keeping clean sheets and saving two penalties in the shootout.