Falconets drawn into Group F for 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Poland

Nigeria’s Under-20 women’s team, the Falconets, have been drawn into Group F of the 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, where they will face Spain, China PR and debutants New Caledonia. The draw, held on Friday at the EC1 Cultural Centre in Łódź, Poland, sets the stage for the expanded 24-team tournament, scheduled for September 5 to September 27 across four Polish host cities: Łódź, Katowice, Sosnowiec and Bielsko-Biała.

For Nigeria, the Group F matchups present a stern test early in the competition. Spain were placed in the group as one of the strongest youth programs, while China PR are expected to bring experienced squad depth and tactical discipline. New Caledonia’s debut appearance also adds an unpredictable element for all teams in the pool. Nigeria, a consistent presence at the tournament, will be looking to build on past progress after reaching the final twice, in 2010 and 2014, when they finished as runners-up.

The Falconets qualified for Poland 2026 by overcoming Malawi in the final qualifying round, winning 3-2 on aggregate. Nigeria took a 2-0 advantage in the first leg in Ikenne before losing the return match 2-1 in Lilongwe, a result that secured their overall...