2022 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup: How Spain Claimed Their First Title in Costa Rica
Introduction
Every two years, the world's brightest young talents in women's football gather for one of the sport's most closely watched proving grounds: the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. In 2022, that stage belonged to Costa Rica, which hosted the tournament from August 10 to August 28. It marked the tenth edition of the competition and the second time the Central American nation had welcomed a FIFA tournament, following the 2014 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.
By the final whistle, it was Spain lifting the trophy for the first time, defeating defending champions Japan 3-1 in a final that lived up to every bit of its billing.
Tournament Background and History
The competition traces its roots back to 2002, when it launched as the FIFA U-19 Women's World Cup with 20 national federations competing under the banner of the biennial International Women's Youth Football Championship. In 2008, FIFA raised the age cap from 19 to 20, giving the tournament its current name and format.
Japan had been the team to beat heading into 2022, having won the previous edition in 2018. But youth football is notoriously unpredictable—and 2022 proved no exception.
How Teams Qualified: The Road to Costa Rica
Sixteen teams earned their place in the final tournament — Costa Rica qualified automatically as hosts, while the remaining 15 spots were distributed across six continental qualifying competitions.
| Confederation | Qualified Teams |
|---|---|
| Asia | Australia, Japan, South Korea |
| Africa | Ghana, Nigeria |
| South America | Brazil, Colombia |
| Central/North America & Caribbean | Canada, Costa Rica (host), Mexico, United States |
| Oceania | New Zealand |
| Europe | France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain |
The tournament kicked off with a symbolic opening fixture between hosts Costa Rica and Australia, setting the tone for three weeks of high-stakes youth football.
Knockout Stage: Quarter-Finals
The last eight delivered drama from start to finish, including a penalty shootout thriller:
- Spain 1–0 Mexico
- Colombia 0–1 Brazil
- Nigeria 0–2 Netherlands
- Japan 3–3 France (Japan won 5-3 on penalties)
Japan's shootout escape against France stood out as the tournament's tensest moment before the final itself, while Spain's narrow win over Mexico hinted at the defensive solidity that would carry them to the title.
Semi-Finals
- Spain 2–1 Netherlands
- Brazil 1–2 Japan
Both semi-finals were decided by a single goal, setting up a final between two teams that had each needed late resilience to get there.
Third-Place Match
Netherlands 1–4 Brazil
Brazil closed out their tournament in style, scoring four unanswered goals (after conceding first) to secure third place and a strong finish to their campaign.
The Final: Spain 3-1 Japan
The win gave Spain their first FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup title, adding another milestone to the country's rapid rise in women's football at both senior and youth levels.
Individual Awards
| Award | Winner | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Top Scorer (8 goals) | Inma Gabarro | Spain |
| Best Player | Maika Hamano | Japan |
| Best Goalkeeper | Txell Font | Spain |
| Fair Play Award | — | Japan |
Inma Gabarro's 8-goal haul made her the tournament's standout attacker, while Japan's Maika Hamano earned individual recognition as Best Player despite her team falling short in the final — a testament to her influence throughout the competition. Spain goalkeeper Txell Font's award underlined the defensive foundation behind the team's title run.
Final Standings
Semi-Finalists
| Pos. | Team | Pld | W | D | L | Pts | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 14 | 2 | +12 |
| 2 | Japan | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 12 | 8 | +4 |
| 3 | Brazil | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 13 | 3 | +10 |
| 4 | Netherlands | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 7 | +4 |
Eliminated in the Quarter-Finals
| Pos. | Team | Pld | W | D | L | Pts | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Nigeria | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 3 | +2 |
| 6 | France | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 7 | Colombia | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 8 | Mexico | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Eliminated in the Group Stage
| Pos. | Team | Pld | W | D | L | Pts | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Germany | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | +1 |
| 10 | South Korea | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 11 | United States | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | −2 |
| 12 | Australia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6 | −3 |
| 13 | New Zealand | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | −3 |
| 14 | Canada | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 8 | −6 |
| 15 | Ghana | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | −8 |
| 16 | Costa Rica (host) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 13 | −12 |
Why the 2022 Tournament Matters
Beyond crowning a new champion, the 2022 edition offered an early look at players who would go on to shape the senior women's game. For Costa Rica, hosting a second FIFA tournament in under a decade reinforced the country's growing role in international football infrastructure, even though the home side finished without a group-stage win.
