Report: Canada 1-1 England WU20s

A Rachel Maltby penalty earned England a point in a 1-1 draw with Canada in the opening game of the 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup.

Annabelle Chukwu gave Canada the lead early in the second half at Bielsko-Biala Stadium, but Maltby's penalty in the penultimate minute of normal time shared the points between the two sides in Poland.

In the early stages, the match was played in the midfield with both sides comfortable on the ball.

England had the first chance of the match as Princess Ademiluyi pounced on a poor back pass by Stephanie Schoeley to Canada goalkeeper Noelle Henning.

Ademiluyi was unable to close the tight angle with 15 minutes gone, as she slid towards the ball after evading the charging Henning.

England WU20s sustained pressure on Canada’s defence and Lola Brown delivered a cross towards the penalty area after taking back possession in the final third.

On the half-hour mark, Ademiluyi was only a yard away from Eleanor Klinger’s deep cross from the right wing, with the Young Lionesses threatening for a first goal.

Maltby stood over a free kick from 30 yards away with ten to go in the first half, forcing Canada to clear.

Then Kaylee Hunter found space for Canada in the penalty area, but her low shot from 15 yards out was off-target and Katie Cox was unmoved.

Cox was called into action soon after when Hunter, who came from an offside position, turned onto her right foot and shot just wide of the right post on the edge of the penalty area.

England ended the first half in attack as Ria Bose took a long-range shot from 35 yards out, Henning able to block the shot for a goalless opening period.

After the break, Lily Dent ran one-on-one towards Henning five minutes into the second half and aimed her cross towards Brown, but Ines Nourani closed the gap and forced the corner on the edge of the six-yard box.

Canada took the lead through second-half substitute Chukwu in the 52nd minute, making a run through the midfield and turning inside and outside Bose to beat Cox in the six-yard area.

Hunter was then inches away from extending Canada’s lead one-on-one with Cox, after England lost possession in their penalty area.

Cox made two saves in quick succession to avoid the deficit growing, with Lea Larouche finding unmarked Hunter near the six-yard area before Cox saved Hunter’s shot and Larouche’s rebound.

As the match drew towards the final ten minutes, Chloe Sarwie found Chloe B Hylton for her first touch of the game to earn a corner, but Vera Jones’ delivery evaded an England player.

Jessie Gale looked to make an instant impact off the bench, firing towards goal from 30 yards away, but her effort drifted wide with renewed motivation to get an equaliser.

Their late charge was rewarded when a penalty was awarded with four minutes to go after Anahi Fernandez judged that Bridget Mutipula tripped Maltby in the penalty area after an on-field review.

Maltby equalised the match to earn a late point for England WU20s and see the Young Lionesses go into their second game against Tanzania on Tuesday unbeaten.

England WU20s: 1 Katie Cox (Chelsea, on loan to Nottingham Forest), 2 Ria Bose (West Ham United, on loan to Sunderland) 5 Zara Shaw c (Liverpool), 6 Cecily Wellesley-Smith (Arsenal, on loan to FC Rosengård), 12 Rachel Maltby (Aston Villa), 4 May Cruft (Rangers), 7 Eleanor Klinger (Stanford Cardinal), 10 Lola Brown (Chelsea), 11 Vera Jones (Chelsea, on loan to Watford), 9 Princess Ademiluyi (Gotham FC, on loan to Ipswich Town), 18 Lily Dent (Brighton & Hove Albion, on loan to Sunderland)

Substitutes: 3 Chloe Sarwie (Chelsea) for Brown 63’, 19 Jessie Gale (Arsenal, on loan to Newcastle) for Ademiluyi 77’, 14 Chloe B Hylton (Carolina Ascent) for Dent 77’, 17 Layla Drury (Manchester United) for Klinger 77’, 15 Lucy Newell (Manchester United) for Jones 90+4’

Subs not used: 13 Kaiya Jota (Stanford Cardinal), 21 Eve Annets (Manchester City, on loan to Hibernian), 20 Sacha Lewis (Manchester City), 8 Vivienne Lia (Eintracht Frankfurt), 16 Eva Hendle (Chelsea, on loan to Rangers)

Head coach: Lydia Bedford

Goals: Rachel Maltby (pen) 89’

Canada WU20s: 1 Noelle Henning, 2 Ines Nourani, 3 Iba Oching, 4 Janet Okeke, 5 Stephanie Schoeley c, 6 Olivia Chisholm, 7 Teegan Melenhorst, 8 Jeneva Hernandez Gray, 10 Kaylee Hunter, 17 Liana Tarasco, 19 Sariyah Bailey

Substitutes: 9 Annabelle Chukwu for Bailey 45’ 11 Lea Larouche for Melenhorst 45’, 15 Bridget Mutipula for Okeke 70’, 12 Jadea Collin for Tarasco 70’

Subs not used: 18 Khadijah Cisse, 21 Madison London, 14 Chloe Taylor, 16 Noelle Sather, 20 Sienna Gibson, 13 Emma Yee

Head coach: Cindy Tye

Goals: Annabelle Chukwu 52’