FIFA is shining a spotlight on ten outstanding players who excelled at the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and are now gearing up to make their mark in the U-20 category. The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland is set to kick off on Saturday, September 5, 2026. Many of the talented athletes who made a significant impact in last year’s tournament in Morocco will return to the global stage, facing the challenging task of replicating their impressive performances at a higher age level.
Among the returning players is Kim Yun Ah, the sole representative from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the reigning world champion, who will participate in the U-20 Women’s World Cup. However, a host of other talents who shone in Morocco will also take the field when Poland 2026 kicks off in just a few days. FIFA highlights some of these remarkable players.
Sylvia Cristobal (Spain)
Spain's unexpected exit in the round of 16 against France came as a shock, given the team's status as one of the favorites to clinch the title. Throughout her four matches in Morocco, the impressive defender Sylvia Cristobal showcased her talent and managed to score two goals. Her continuous presence with Real Madrid and her recent triumph in the UEFA Women’s U-19 Championship with Spain suggest that Cristobal will play a pivotal role in the journey of "La Rojita" once again.
Evelin (Brazil)
Arriving in Rabat with a strong reputation, Evelin quickly captured the audience's attention with her extraordinary abilities as a young forward capable of creating magic with the ball at her feet. The Santos player demonstrated her remarkable dribbling skills and composure in front of the goal, needing only 12 minutes to score her first goal in the FIFA tournament during Brazil's 3-0 victory over Morocco. Evelin contributed significantly to Brazil's advancement to the semifinals, and fans are eagerly anticipating her performance in the U-20 category.
Julia Galli (Italy)
With five goals to her name, Julia Galli caught the spotlight in Morocco and led Italy to the quarter-finals. Her return to the U-20 Women’s World Cup comes as a natural progression after her impressive displays in Morocco. At the club level, the forward continues to shine with AS Roma’s first team. Galli was a key figure in Italy's qualification for Poland 2026, and she stands out as one of the youngest players in head coach Nicola Matteo's squad, alongside her talented teammates Martina Brisan and Caterina Venturi. Galli will hope to once again aid her nation in reaching the furthest stages of the tournament.
As reported by fifa.com.
