Overview:
The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Poland kicked off Saturday with four matches.
The FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup Poland kicked off Saturday with four matches.
Playing in front of their fans in Katowice, hosts Poland made its U-20 Women’s World Cup with a 3-0 victory over Argentina in Group A. The match was attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom.
Later in the day, also in Group A, Mexico faced another team lining up at the competition for the first time, Benin. Emotions ran high until the last minutes, when Benin scored its second goal to secure a 2-2 draw.
In Bielsko-Biała, the first match featured a clash between South America and Africa, with Brazil registering a 4-1 win over Tanzania, which also made its first U-20 WC appearance.
That preceded a blockbuster bout between two women’s powerhouses, Canada and England, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
The action continues on Sunday, with Group C getting up and running in Sosnowiec as France takes on the Korea Republic, followed by Ecuador against Ghana. Group D kicks off in Lodz, where Japan meets New Zealand and the USA meets Italy.
Another special moment on Saturday came with children from the Ukrainian refugee community in Poland serving as player escorts in Katowice. They were invited to enjoy this unique experience thanks to a joint initiative from the FIFA Foundation and UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency.