The 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland now has its first semifinalists following a heart-stopping round of quarterfinals in Łódź. On a Sunday marked by tension, drama, and nail-biting finishes, the national teams of Colombia and North Korea secured their spots in the next round after breaking open extremely tight matches in stoppage time.
Colombia Knocks Out Nigeria in a Dramatic Finish
The Colombian national team once again demonstrated its international class by defeating Nigeria 1-0 in a rough, physical match with an unpredictable outcome. The first half at Stadion Miejski LKS Łódź featured a tightly contested match with few attacking highlights, where the clearest chance came from a powerful long-range shot by Nigeria’s Tumininu Adeshina that goalkeeper Luisa Agudelo spectacularly tipped over the crossbar.
In the second half, the script changed. Carlos Paniagua’s team took control, and number 10, Mariana Silva, had two clear one-on-one chances but was denied by goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma. The turning point came with 13 minutes remaining, when Kafayat Masifere received a straight red card after a hard foul on Samantha Rodríguez, leaving Nigeria with ten players.
Just when the match seemed headed for extra time, a miracle occurred in the 92nd minute. Valerin Loboa capitalized on a rebound from her own initial shot and, with tremendous courage, dived into the six-yard box to slot the ball into the back of the net. “We never lost faith that the goal would come,” Loboa said after being named player of the match. With this historic victory, Paniagua and her warriors have secured a spot among the top four teams in the world and kept their dream of reaching the final alive.
North Korea Dominates a Tenacious Canada
In the second match, the powerful North Korean team lived up to its status as favorite, though it had to work harder than expected to secure a 2-0 victory over a disciplined and combative Canada. The Asian team, under the guidance of Han Chol-hak, dominated play from the opening whistle and turned the Canadian penalty area into a veritable barrage of offensive attacks.
Canadian goalkeeper Noelle Henning emerged as the star of the match, saving an early shot by Choe Rim-jong and a powerful strike in the second half that she tipped onto the crossbar. North Korean frustration mounted with 13 minutes remaining when a header by Jong Pok-yong was disallowed by VAR due to a previous offside call.
However, the Canadians’ resistance crumbled in stoppage time. In the 92nd minute, the persistent Choe Rim-jong fired an unstoppable left-footed shot into the top corner to break the deadlock. Moments later, in the 96th minute, substitute Ho Kyong finished with speed to seal the 2-0 victory just before the final whistle.
With these results, Colombia and North Korea are preparing for the final showdown for the medals, proving that in this World Cup, the excitement lasts until the very last breath.
