FIFA president Gianni Infantino has hailed the expanded U-20 Women’s World Cup as evidence of football’s growing reach across the world.
Speaking in Katowice during Saturday’s opening match between hosts Poland and Argentina, Infantino said expanding participation creates opportunities for previously unrepresented nations.
“This kind of tournament is exactly what FIFA is there for,” Infantino said while explaining the importance of developing football globally.
“We develop the game, we boost the game in the entire world, and we have increased the number of participants.”
The Poland tournament is only the second edition featuring 24 countries, following the competition’s expansion from 16 teams before Colombia 2024.
Six countries are appearing at this level for the first time, with Tanzania and Benin representing Africa alongside established qualifiers Nigeria and Ghana.
For Tanzania and Benin, qualification represents another significant step in broadening Africa’s representation at a tournament traditionally dominated by fewer countries.
The competition began in Canada in 2002 as the FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship, before changing to an U-20 competition from 2006.
Eleven editions were completed between 2002 and 2024, with only five countries managing to lift the trophy during that period.
USA, Germany and Korea DPR share the record with three titles each, while Japan and Spain have each been champions once.
USA won the inaugural edition in 2002 before Germany took the 2004 title, while Korea DPR became champions two years later.
USA returned to the summit in 2008 and 2012, while Germany added further titles in 2010 and 2014.
Korea DPR won again in 2016 before Japan became champions in 2018, with Spain succeeding them at Costa Rica 2022.
The North Koreans returned to the top in Colombia two years later, defeating Japan 1-0 to equal USA and Germany’s three titles.
Africa, however, is still waiting for its first champion despite Nigeria coming close on several occasions throughout the competition’s history.
Nigeria remain the continent’s outstanding performers, reaching the final in 2010 and 2014 before losing both championship matches to Germany.
The Falconets also finished fourth in 2012 and reached the quarter-finals in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2018 and 2022.
Nigeria reached the Round of 16 following the expansion in 2024, maintaining their record of qualifying for every tournament since 2002.
Ghana have become Africa’s other consistent qualifiers, although the Black Princesses had never progressed beyond the group stage before Poland 2026.
DR Congo represented Africa in 2006 and 2008, while Cameroon and Morocco were among the four African sides competing at Colombia 2024.
Cameroon reached the Round of 16 in Colombia before losing 3-1 after extra time against Brazil, while Morocco exited during the group stage.
That history gives extra significance to Tanzania and Benin entering the competition, especially as FIFA continues opening more places for developing football nations.
“We want to bring football to everyone, to narrow this gap between the elite and the rest of the world,” Infantino said.
For Africa, Poland 2026 now presents another opportunity to finally go one step further than Nigeria’s two runner-up finishes and challenge for the title.