RismadarVoice Reporters, August 24, 2026
Nigeria’s Falconets are set to make history at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland, joining Brazil and the United States as the only countries to have featured in every edition of the tournament.
The tournament, scheduled for September 5 to 27, 2026, will expand to 24 teams for the first time.
Nigeria has participated in all 11 previous editions of the competition, which began as the FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship in 2002 before being upgraded to the U-20 category in 2006.
The Falconets made their debut at the inaugural tournament in Canada in 2002 but were eliminated at the group stage. They later reached the quarter-finals in 2004 and 2006.
Nigeria’s best performances came in 2010 and 2014, when the Falconets finished as runners-up on both occasions, losing to Germany in the final.
The 2014 tournament also saw the emergence of former Falconets star Asisat Oshoala, who won both the Golden Ball and Golden Boot.
Nigeria finished fourth in 2012 and subsequently reached the quarter-finals in 2018 and 2022. The team progressed to the Round of 16 in 2024, while their 2016 campaign ended at the group stage.
In their 11 previous appearances, the Falconets have played 48 matches, recording 22 wins, 10 draws and 16 defeats, while scoring 77 goals.
At the 2026 tournament, Nigeria will compete in Group F alongside Spain, China PR and New Caledonia.
With their record of appearing in every edition secured, the Falconets will now target a historic title in Poland and seek to win Nigeria’s first FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup trophy.
