The championship took place from September 5 to 27 and brought together 24 national teams from around the world. The matches were played in Łódź, Katowice, Sosnowiec, and Bielsko-Biała. The stadium in Łódź played a particularly important role, as it hosted the entire knockout stage of the tournament.
Łódź hosted 12 group stage matches, two Round of 16 matches, two quarterfinals, both semifinals, the bronze medal match, and the final. In total, that amounts to 20 matches—more than one-third of all matches in the championship.
– Entrusting Łódź with such a large part of the tournament—and, above all, all four medal-deciding matches—was a tremendous honor, but also a demanding test of our organizational capabilities. For three weeks, we worked at an intense match pace, in accordance with FIFA standards, serving national teams, technical staff, the media, and fans. This is the best confirmation that Łódź’s stadiums and the MAKiS team are prepared to host the largest international sporting events,” says Maciej Łaski, President of the Municipal Arena of Culture and Sport.
All medal matches in Łódź
In the semifinals played on September 23, Spain defeated Italy 2–0, while North Korea defeated Colombia 3–0.
Three days later, Colombia won the bronze medal. The match against Italy ended in a 1-1 draw, and the Colombians won 4-3 in a penalty shootout.
The tournament culminated in the final, played on September 27. After 120 minutes, Spain and North Korea were tied 0–0. The World Cup title was decided in a penalty shootout, which Spain won 4–3.
Photo: Radoslaw Zydowicz
Two stadiums, two World Cup finals
The 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland was not the first youth World Cup held in Łódź. In 2019, the Municipal Stadium on Piłsudskiego Avenue—home to Widzew Łódź—hosted matches for the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland.
It was at this venue that both the opening match and the championship final were held. The Polish national team also played all three of its group stage matches there. In the final, Ukraine defeated South Korea 3–1 and won the U-20 World Cup title for the first time in history.
Seven years later, international youth soccer returned to Łódź—this time to the Władysław Król Municipal Stadium, featuring the world’s best young female soccer players.
The hosting of two FIFA youth tournaments in Łódź—at the stadium on Piłsudskiego Avenue in 2019 and on Unii Lubelskiej Avenue in 2026—shows that the city has more than one venue capable of hosting international competitions.
This also marks another experience for the MAKiS team in working in accordance with the requirements of one of the world’s largest sports organizations. Both tournaments brought international broadcasts and media coverage to Łódź. They also provided an opportunity to showcase the city’s facilities, their infrastructure, and organizational capabilities to a wider audience.
– The two FIFA U-17 World Cup finals held over the course of seven years at two stadiums in Łódź demonstrate that we have the necessary infrastructure and experience. Behind every such event are months of preparation and cooperation between the city, the relevant sports association, the facility operator, and many partners. We are committed to ensuring that Łódź regularly hosts major sporting events and is well-regarded by organizers, athletes, and fans, ” emphasizes Maciej Łaski.
Three weeks of work in accordance with FIFA standards
Organizing 20 matches required preparing the field, the stands, the sports and technical facilities, and the areas designated for the teams, referees, FIFA representatives, the media, and tournament partners. The venue operated at a frenetic pace for over three weeks, hosting successive national teams and stages of the tournament.
The scale of Łódź’s participation in the championships confirmed the infrastructural and operational capabilities of the Władysław Król Municipal Stadium. This is yet another facility managed by MAKiS that has become the venue for an event of global significance.
The 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland by the Numbers
- 24 national teams;
- 52 games;
- four host cities;
- 20 games played in Łódź;
- 12 group stage matches;
- two Round of 16 matches;
- two quarterfinals;
- two semifinals;
- the third-place game and the final.
The new turf is staying in Łódź
The tournament also brought about a lasting change to the infrastructure. Before the start of the championship, the playing surface at the Władysław Król Municipal Stadium underwent a comprehensive renovation costing approximately 1.2 million PLN, fully funded by FIFA.
Check out the events calendar: www.atlasarena.pl/wydarzenia/
