Lee Ha-eun (center) celebrates after scoring the equalizer in a quarterfinal match at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup at Arena Sosnowiec in Poland on Jan. 19, Korea time. Photo courtesy of the Korea Football Association
South Korea’s women’s under-20 football team failed to reach the semifinals of the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
Korea, coached by Park Yoon-jung, lost 1-3 to Italy in the quarterfinals at Sosnowiec Arena in Poland on the 19th, Korea time.
Lee Ha-eun pulled a goal back for Korea, but the team conceded twice to Karen Appiah and gave up another goal to Paola Fadda. The loss ended Korea’s hopes of a first semifinal appearance in 16 years, since the 2010 tournament in Germany.
Korea advanced from Group C as runner-up with one win, one draw and one loss. It then beat Argentina 1-0 in the round of 16 to reach the quarterfinals for the first time in 12 years, since the 2014 tournament in Canada.
Korea had aimed to match its best-ever finish, a third-place showing in 2010, but could not overcome Italy’s finishing. Italy, for its part, advanced past the group stage for the first time and went on to reach the semifinals.
Korea held on early behind saves from goalkeeper Kim Chae-bin. But it conceded in the 16th minute, when Appiah headed home a cross from the left by Giada Pellegrino Cimo.
Korea pushed back. In the 25th minute, Beom Ye-ju tried a left-footed shot, but the ball went straight at the goalkeeper.
The equalizer came late in the first half. In the 43rd minute, a free kick by Jung Da-bin came off the post and Han Min-seo knocked the ball on in a scramble. Lee Ha-eun turned it in with her right foot to level the match.
The momentum shifted again early in the second half. Korea conceded just three minutes after the restart, when Fadda delivered a corner from the left and Appiah volleyed it in with her left foot from the center of the penalty box.
Italy sealed the result in the 63rd minute. Fadda scored on a long-range left-footed strike from in front of the penalty arc to restore the two-goal cushion.
Korea made substitutions in search of a way back but never broke through, ending its tournament in the quarterfinals.