2026 Women’s Under-20 World Cup: Poland and Brazil make strong starts

Poland opened the FIFA Women’s Under-20 World Cup with a 3-0 win over Argentina in front of an enthusiastic home crowd in Katowice. Brazil also began the tournament with a victory, overcoming a tenacious Tanzania side after a strong second half.

Argentina controlled the early stages against Poland, but the hosts made their chance count. Lena Swirska’s dangerous shot deflected to Zwiazek, who finished easily. Poland doubled its lead minutes later when Paz scored an own goal from a corner delivered by Zofia Pagowska.

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I think we lived up to what the match demanded. Perhaps the score is a little misleading. Especially in the first half, I think we were even better than them. But that is football. When you create chances, you have to take them, because if you do not, that is how you get punished at this level. This is only the beginning and there are still several matches to play. For now, we will clear our heads and rest. Tomorrow we will turn our full attention to Benin.

Poland comfortably protected its advantage before Maja Zielinka added a third goal in stoppage time. Argentina captain Agustina Maldonado said her team had competed well, although she acknowledged that the score might be misleading. She said Argentina had created chances but needed to take them, adding that the tournament had only just begun.

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We have to take the positives from this match and work on the negatives. There were many negatives, to be honest. At the same time, they scored two goals in the space of a minute that came completely out of nowhere. I do not know whether that is the right way to describe it, but I felt those goals belonged to another match. We definitely have to improve our finishing to make better use of the chances we create.

Argentina coach Christian Meloni said the team had to preserve the positives and work on the negatives, particularly its finishing. He described Poland’s two goals within a minute as moments that seemed to come from another match.

Poland captain Zuzanna Witek said the opening match was especially important and expressed confidence that her team could advance from the group stage and compete for medals. She said the players’ unity and willingness to help one another had made her proud of the team.

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For us, the first match is always the most important. We believe that if we win the first match, things will automatically go better in the next phase. And, of course, we believe we can advance from the group stage and fight for medals. What I liked most was that we were a team on the pitch, and you could really see it. Everyone fought and we knew that each person would help the others. That is why I am really proud of my team.