What started as 24 is now down to 16 as the knockout stage of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Colombia 2024™ gets under way in the cities of Bogota and Cali.
Impressively, the only five nations to have won the title will all be present in the second round. The three most recent winners – Spain, Japan and Korea DPR – were among the teams to have emerged from the groups with a perfect record, so there’s plenty of heavyweight interest.
There’s also some underdog action, with two of the four tournament debutants, Austria and Cameroon, slicing through to second round.
By confederation, UEFA have five nations that secured a knockout pass. Asia, Concacaf and CONMEBOL each have three, while there are also two African representatives.
Brazil v Cameroon
Estadio El Campin, Bogota
Wednesday 11 September | 16:30 (local time)
Brazil were imperious throughout the groups, winning all three matches, scoring 14 and not conceding once. They’ve also been boosted by the late arrival into camp of a handful of players who had to fulfil club commitments back home before venturing to Colombia and, in the form of Vendito, they have the tournament’s top scorer.
All that means this will be a stern examination for debutants Cameroon, who reached the knockouts as one of the top third-place sides, having seen off Australia 2-0 in their final group outing.
With three goals from as many matches, the African nation has their own sharp-shooter, with Naomi Eto having caught the eye in the groups. There is therefore significant firepower in this fixture, which will be the first meeting between the pair at a Women’s U-20 World Cup.
Spain v Canada
Estadio Pascual Guerrero, Cali
Wednesday 11 September | 16:30 (local time)
The defending champions put their crown on the line in Cali against a Canadian side that emerged from a tough group, where they finished third behind Brazil and France.
Spain impressed in winning all three of their group outings and had the luxury of rotating the squad for the final match, with progression already secure.
The dangerous Annabelle Chukwu has scored a third of Canada’s 12 goals – in fact her tally of four is just one shy of that scored by the entire Spanish side in their first three matches.
At the other end of the pitch it was a far different story. Spain are to concede and, with Canada having shipped five goals, this should be a tight encounter in Southwestern Colombia.
Mexico v USA
Estadio El Campin, Bogota
Wednesday 11 September | 20:00 (local time)
A Concacaf rivalry is one of the highlights of the round of 16 when a pair of second-place finishers in their group clash in the capital.
Mexico were steady in group play, pushing the hosts all the way in a 1-0 defeat in the final match. They will fancy their chances of causing an upset – as they did in qualification for Colombia 2024. Mexico downed the Americans 2-1 in the Concacaf Women’s U-20 Championship final.
USA may be three-time champions at this level but it is the first time they’ve featured in the knockouts since 2016. Both coach Tracey Kevins and her squad have spoken of this being just a meeting of “initial” expectations and, after putting seven past Paraguay in their final group outing, they appear to be rounding ominously into form.
Colombia v Korea Republic
Estadio Pascual Guerrero, Cali
Wednesday 11 September | 20:00 (local time)
Having already featured in the other host cities of Bogota and Medellin, the Colombia carnival rolls into Cali, a city that refers to itself as the home of women’s football in the country.
That is set to see a full-house at the Estadio Pascual Guerrero for the visit of a Korea Republic side that were on the verge of elimination before stunning three-time champions Germany 1-0 in their final match. That victory saw them progress as one of the best third-place sides.
What they said….
“Of course it is difficult [because all teams raise their level against us] but we are not really so much focused on the opposition. We want to continue playing in the way that we play, we know now there are hard challenges ahead but we will give nothing less than 100 per cent.”
Lucia Moral, Spain forward
“We know them [Mexico] well. They’re our rivals, so it’s going to be an awesome game. Every game is tough but that helps us on our road to the gold medal, so I think it’s going to be awesome to be able to play against them. It’s always fun to play against a rival. It’s going to be a battle, and I’m super excited.”
Savannah King, USA defender
“There are people who say that women’s football in Korea lags behind other countries. We’re now in the last-16. We will prepare well so that we can show everyone the best version of ourselves. Unlike the group stage, the tournament can end in any moment during the knockout stage. I hope we carry on with a bit more desperation and the mindset that we’re more than capable of achieving more.”
Park Younjeong, Korea Republic coach
