Published 05 August 2026 3 min read
Women's U20s
Get ready for the Women's U20 World Cup!
){kind=icon}
){kind=icon}
){kind=icon}
){kind=icon}
){kind=icon}
With one month to go until the start of England's next tournament, we take a look at the FIFA Women's U20 World Cup in Poland
The countdown is on! There’s not long now until England women under-20s get their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign underway.
The tournament, in its 12th edition, begins on Saturday 5 September as England kick-start their campaign against Canada in Bielsko-Biała.
England’s WU20 group have qualified for the tournament for the first time since 2018, when they finished third in France.
Ahead of England’s return to the tournament, which will feature the most promising young stars across the world, we’ve put together everything you need to know to support our Young Lionesses.
England have been drawn in Group B alongside Canada, Brazil and Tanzania.
All three of England’s group stage matches will be played at the Bielsko-Biała Stadium, beginning with a clash against Canada on the opening day of the tournament.
Three days later they’ll take on Tanzania, before wrapping things up against Brazil on September 11.
The final will be played on Sunday 27 September at the Władysław Król Municipal Stadium in Łódź.
Canada v England
5pm BST, Saturday 5 September
World Cup, Group B
Bielsko-Biała Stadium
England v Tanzania
5pm BST, Tuesday 8 September
World Cup, Group B
Bielsko-Biała Stadium
England v Brazil
2pm BST, Friday 11 September
World Cup, Group B
Bielsko-Biała Stadium
The tournament, in its 12th edition, begins on Saturday 5 September as England kick-start their campaign against Canada in Bielsko-Biała.
England’s WU20 group have qualified for the tournament for the first time since 2018, when they finished third in France.
Ahead of England’s return to the tournament, which will feature the most promising young stars across the world, we’ve put together everything you need to know to support our Young Lionesses.
England’s fixtures
England have been drawn in Group B alongside Canada, Brazil and Tanzania.
All three of England’s group stage matches will be played at the Bielsko-Biała Stadium, beginning with a clash against Canada on the opening day of the tournament.
Three days later they’ll take on Tanzania, before wrapping things up against Brazil on September 11.
The final will be played on Sunday 27 September at the Władysław Król Municipal Stadium in Łódź.
Canada v England
5pm BST, Saturday 5 September
World Cup, Group B
Bielsko-Biała Stadium
England v Tanzania
5pm BST, Tuesday 8 September
World Cup, Group B
Bielsko-Biała Stadium
England v Brazil
2pm BST, Friday 11 September
World Cup, Group B
Bielsko-Biała Stadium
Get to know the staff
Lydia Bedford will lead the Young Lionesses to the World Cup following her appointment in March 2026.
Since taking charge, Bedford has overseen four matches, with England winning two, drawing one and suffering just one defeat — a narrow loss against Japan.
Her side recorded an impressive victory over Canada in June, who will also be among England’s opponents in the World Cup group stage, before drawing with the USA and edging past Colombia on penalties last month as the squad ramped up preparations for the tournament.
Key players
The England squad is full of emerging talent, but we have picked out three exciting players to keep an eye on over the summer.
Princess Ademiluyi (Forward, Ipswich Town on loan from Gotham FC): One of the standout attacking talents in the group. The striker, 20, has already made senior appearances in the Women’s Super League (WSL) for West Ham United and brings a threat with blistering pace and an eye for goal.
Laila Harbert (Midfielder, Arsenal): While part of the Arsenal Academy set-up, 19-year-old Harbert - a technically gifted midfielder - has enjoyed loan spells with Watford, Southampton, Portland Thorns and Everton, where she made her WSL debut last season.
Cecily Wellesley-Smith (Defender, FC Rosengård on loan from Arsenal): Another Gunners product, Wellesley-Smith, 19, Joined Arsenal last year and has spent time away with Leicester City and current team FC Rosengård in Sweden. In her handful of appearances, she grabbed her first senior goal in a 3–0 victory over Växjö DFF.
