FIFA U-20 World Cup
The FIFA U-20 World Cup is the biennial football world championship for men players under the age of 20, organised by FIFA. The competition has been staged every two years since the inaugural tournament in 1977 when it was hosted by Tunisia,[1] under the tournament name of FIFA World Youth Championship until 2005. In 2007 the name was changed to its present form. The current title holder is Ukraine which won its first title at the 2019 tournament in Poland.
![]() The trophy awarded to champions | |
Organising body | FIFA |
---|---|
Founded | 1977 |
Region | Worldwide |
Number of teams | 24 (finals) |
Related competitions | FIFA World Cup |
Current champions | ![]() |
Most successful team(s) | ![]() |
Website | fifa.com/u20worldcup |
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Tournaments | |
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History
In the twenty-two tournament editions staged, eleven different nations have won the title. Argentina U20 is the most successful team with six titles, followed by BrazilU20 with five titles. Portugal U20 and Serbia U20 have both won two titles (with the latter winning once as Yugoslavia U20), while Ghana U20, Germany U20, Spain U20, France U20, England U20, Ukraine U20 and Russia U20 (as the USSR U20) have won the title once each.
A corresponding event for women's teams, the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, began in 2002 with the name "FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship" and an age limit of 19. The age limit for the women's competition was changed to 20 beginning with the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship, and the competition was renamed as a "World Cup" in 2007 in preparation for the 2008 event. The next edition will be held in 2023 in Indonesia, after the planned 2021 FIFA U-20 World Cup competition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Qualification
24 national teams appear in the final tournament. 23 countries, including the defending champion, have to qualify in the youth championships of the six confederations. The host country automatically qualifies.
Confederation | Championship |
---|---|
AFC (Asia) | AFC U-20 Asian Cup |
CAF (Africa) | African Youth Championship |
CONCACAF (North, Central America and Caribbean) | CONCACAF Under-20 Championship |
CONMEBOL (South America) | South American Youth Football Championship |
UEFA (Europe) | UEFA European U-19 Championship |
OFC (Oceania) | OFC Under 20 Qualifying Tournament |
Results
FIFA World Youth Championship
- 1977–2005: "FIFA World Youth Championship"
- 2007–present: "FIFA U-20 World Cup"
- a.e.t.: after extra time
- p: match won on penalties
Ed. | Year | Host | Final | Third place match | N° teams | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
Score | ![]() |
![]() |
Score | Fourth place | ||||
1 | 1977 | Tunisia | ![]() Soviet Union |
2–2 (a.e.t.) (9–8 p) |
![]() Mexico |
![]() Brazil |
4–0 | ![]() Uruguay |
16 |
2 | 1979 | Japan | ![]() Argentina |
3–1 | ![]() Soviet Union |
![]() Uruguay |
1–1 (a.e.t.) (5–3 p) |
![]() Poland |
16 |
3 | 1981 | Australia | ![]() West Germany |
4–0 | ![]() Qatar |
![]() Romania |
1–0 | ![]() England |
16 |
4 | 1983 | Mexico | ![]() Brazil |
1–0 | ![]() Argentina |
![]() Poland |
2–1 (a.e.t.) | ![]() South Korea |
16 |
5 | 1985 | Soviet Union | ![]() Brazil |
1–0 (a.e.t.) | ![]() Spain |
![]() Nigeria |
0–0 (a.e.t.) (3–1 p) |
![]() Soviet Union |
16 |
6 | 1987 | Chile | ![]() Yugoslavia |
1–1 (a.e.t.) (5–4 p) |
![]() West Germany |
![]() East Germany |
2–2 (a.e.t.) (3–1 p) |
![]() Chile |
16 |
7 | 1989 | Saudi Arabia | ![]() Portugal |
2–0 | ![]() Nigeria |
![]() Brazil |
2–0 | ![]() United States |
16 |
8 | 1991 | Portugal | ![]() Portugal |
0–0 (a.e.t.) (4–2 p) |
![]() Brazil |
![]() Soviet Union |
1–1 (a.e.t.) (5–4 p) |
![]() Australia |
16 |
9 | 1993 | Australia | ![]() Brazil |
2–1 | ![]() Ghana |
![]() England |
2–1 | ![]() Australia |
16 |
10 | 1995 | Qatar | ![]() Argentina |
2–0 | ![]() Brazil |
![]() Portugal |
3–2 | ![]() Spain |
16 |
11 | 1997 | Malaysia | ![]() Argentina |
2–1 | ![]() Uruguay |
![]() Republic of Ireland |
2–1 | ![]() Ghana |
24 |
12 | 1999 | Nigeria | ![]() Spain |
4–0 | ![]() Japan |
![]() Mali |
1–0 | ![]() Uruguay |
24 |
13 | 2001 | Argentina | ![]() Argentina |
3–0 | ![]() Ghana |
![]() Egypt |
1–0 | ![]() Paraguay |
24 |
14 | 2003 | UAE | ![]() Brazil |
1–0 | ![]() Spain |
![]() Colombia |
2–1 | ![]() Argentina |
24 |
15 | 2005 | Netherlands | ![]() Argentina |
2–1 | ![]() Nigeria |
![]() Brazil |
2–1 | ![]() Morocco |
24 |
16 | 2007 | Canada | ![]() Argentina |
2–1 | ![]() Czech Republic |
![]() Chile |
1–0 | ![]() Austria |
24 |
17 | 2009 | Egypt | ![]() Ghana |
0–0 (a.e.t.) (4–3 p) |
![]() Brazil |
![]() Hungary |
1–1 (a.e.t.) (2–0 p) |
![]() Costa Rica |
24 |
18 | 2011 | Colombia | ![]() Brazil |
3–2 (a.e.t.) | ![]() Portugal |
![]() Mexico |
3–1 | ![]() France |
24 |
19 | 2013 | Turkey | ![]() France |
0–0 (a.e.t.) (4–1 p) |
![]() Uruguay |
![]() Ghana |
3–0 | ![]() Iraq |
24 |
20 | 2015 | New Zealand | ![]() Serbia |
2–1 (a.e.t.) | ![]() Brazil |
![]() Mali |
3–1 | ![]() Senegal |
24 |
21 | 2017 | South Korea | ![]() England |
1–0 | ![]() Venezuela |
![]() Italy |
0–0 (a.e.t.) (4–1 p) |
![]() Uruguay |
24 |
22 | 2019 | Poland | ![]() Ukraine |
3–1 | ![]() South Korea |
![]() Ecuador |
1–0 (a.e.t.) | ![]() Italy |
24 |
— | 2021 | Indonesia | (Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic)[2] |
24 | |||||
23 | 2023 | Indonesia |
Teams reaching the top four
Team | Titles | Runners-up | Third place | Fourth place |
---|---|---|---|---|
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6 (1979, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2007) | 1 (1983) | 1 (2003) | |
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5 (1983, 1985, 1993, 2003, 2011) | 4 (1991, 1995, 2009, 2015) | 3 (1977, 1989, 2005) | |
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2 (1989, 1991) | 1 (2011) | 1 (1995) | |
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2 (1987, 2015) | |||
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1 (2009) | 2 (1993, 2001) | 1 (2013) | 1 (1997) |
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1 (1999) | 2 (1985, 2003) | 1 (1995) | |
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1 (1977) | 1 (1979) | 1 (1991) | 1 (1985) |
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1 (1981) | 1 (1987) | ||
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1 (2017) | 1 (1993) | 1 (1981) | |
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1 (2013) | 1 (2011) | ||
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1 (2019) | |||
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2 (1997, 2013) | 1 (1979) | 3 (1977, 1999, 2017) | |
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2 (1989, 2005) | 1 (1985) | ||
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1 (1977) | 1 (2011) | ||
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1 (2019) | 1 (1983) | ||
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1 (1981) | |||
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1 (1999) | |||
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1 (2007) | |||
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1 (2017) | |||
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2 (1999, 2015) | |||
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1 (1983) | 1 (1979) | ||
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1 (2007) | 1 (1987) | ||
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1 (2017) | 1 (2019) | ||
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1 (1981) | |||
![]() |
1 (1987) | |||
![]() |
1 (1997) | |||
![]() |
1 (2001) | |||
![]() |
1 (2003) | |||
![]() |
1 (2009) | |||
![]() |
1 (2019) | |||
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2 (1991, 1993) | |||
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1 (1989) | |||
![]() |
1 (2001) | |||
![]() |
1 (2005) | |||
![]() |
1 (2007) | |||
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1 (2009) | |||
![]() |
1 (2013) | |||
![]() |
1 (2015) |
- 1 = includes results representing Yugoslavia
- 2 = includes results representing Soviet Union
- 3 = includes results representing West Germany
Performances by continental zones (as of 2019)

All continental confederations except for the OFC (Oceania) have made an appearance in the final match of the tournament. To date, CONMEBOL (South America) leads with eleven titles, followed by UEFA (Europe) with ten titles and CAF (Africa) with one title. Teams from the AFC (Asia) and CONCACAF (North America, Central America, Caribbean) have made the tournament final four times, but were defeated by strong UEFA sides. No current OFC member has ever made the semifinals; Australia reached the semifinals as an OFC member in 1991 and 1993, finishing fourth on both occasions, before the country joined the AFC in 2006.
Confederation (continent) | Performances | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Winners | Runners-up | Third | Fourth | |
CONMEBOL (South America) | 11 titles: Argentina (6), Brazil (5) | 8 times: Brazil (4), Uruguay (2), Argentina (1), Venezuela (1) | 7 times: Brazil (3), Chile (1), Colombia (1), Ecuador (1), Uruguay (1) | 6 times: Uruguay (3), Argentina (1), Chile (1), Paraguay (1) |
UEFA (Europe) | 10 titles: Portugal (2), Serbia1 (2), England (1), France (1), West Germany (1), Spain (1), Ukraine (1), USSR (1) | 6 times: Spain (2), Czech Republic (1), West Germany (1), Portugal (1), USSR (1) | 9 times: England (1), East Germany (1), Hungary (1), Rep. of Ireland (1), Italy (1), Poland (1), Portugal (1), Romania (1), USSR (1) | 7 times: Austria (1), England (1), France (1), Italy (1), Poland (1), Spain (1), USSR (1) |
CAF (Africa) | 1 title: Ghana (1) | 4 times: Ghana (2), Nigeria (2) | 5 times: Mali (2), Egypt (1), Ghana (1), Nigeria (1) | 3 times: Ghana (1), Morocco (1), Senegal (1) |
AFC (Asia) | None | 3 times: Japan (1), Qatar (1), South Korea (1) | None | 2 times: Iraq (1), South Korea (1) |
CONCACAF (North, Central America and Caribbean) | None | 1 time: Mexico (1) | 1 time: Mexico (1) | 2 times: Costa Rica (1), United States (1) |
OFC (Oceania) | None | None | None | 2 times: Australia2 (2) |
Awards
Golden Ball
The Golden Ball (currently commercially termed "adidas Golden Ball") award is awarded to the player who plays the most outstanding football during the tournament. It is selected by the media poll. Since the 2007 tournament, those who finish as runners-up in the vote receive the Silver Ball and Bronze Ball awards as the second and third most outstanding players in the tournament respectively.
World Cup | Golden Ball | Silver Ball | Bronze Ball | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1977 Tunisia | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
[3] |
1979 Japan | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
[4] |
1981 Australia | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
[5] |
1983 Mexico | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
[6] |
1985 Soviet Union | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
[7] |
1987 Chile | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
[8] |
1989 Saudi Arabia | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
[9] |
1991 Portugal | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
[10] |
1993 Australia | ![]() |
Not awarded | Not awarded | [11] |
1995 Qatar | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
[12] |
1997 Malaysia | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
[13] |
1999 Nigeria | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
[14] |
2001 Argentina | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
[15] |
2003 United Arab Emirates | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
[16] |
2005 Netherlands | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
[17] |
2007 Canada | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
[18] |
2009 Egypt | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
[19] |
2011 Colombia | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
[20] |
2013 Turkey | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
[21] |
2015 New Zealand | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
[22] |
2017 South Korea | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
[23] |
2019 Poland | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
[24] |
Cancelled | ||||
2023 |
Golden Boot
The Golden Boot (currently commercially termed "adidas Golden Boot") award is awarded to the top goalscorer of the tournament. If players are equal in goals, they are then ranked by the most assists made and, if still tied, by fewest minutes played during the tournament.
World Cup | Golden Boot | Goals | Silver Boot | Goals | Bronze Boot | Goals | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1977 Tunisia | ![]() |
4 | ![]() |
3 | ![]() |
3 | [3] |
1979 Japan | ![]() |
8 | ![]() |
6 | ![]() |
5 | [4] |
1981 Australia | ![]() |
4 | ![]() |
4 | ![]() |
4 | [5] |
1983 Mexico | ![]() |
6 | ![]() |
5 | ![]() |
4 | [6] |
1985 Soviet Union | ![]() |
3 | ![]() |
3 | ![]() |
3 | [7] |
1987 Chile | ![]() |
7 | ![]() |
6 | ![]() |
5 | [8] |
1989 Saudi Arabia | ![]() |
5 | ![]() |
3 | ![]() |
3 | [9] |
1991 Portugal | ![]() |
5 | ![]() |
4 | ![]() |
4 | [10] |
1993 Australia | ![]() |
3 | ![]() |
3 | ![]() |
3 | [11] |
1995 Qatar | ![]() |
7 | ![]() |
5 | ![]() |
4 | [12] |
1997 Malaysia | ![]() |
10 | ![]() |
5 | ![]() |
4 | [13] |
1999 Nigeria | ![]() |
5 | ![]() |
5 | ![]() |
4 | [14] |
2001 Argentina | ![]() |
11 | ![]() |
6 | ![]() |
6 | [15] |
2003 United Arab Emirates | ![]() |
4 | ![]() |
4 | ![]() |
4 | [16] |
2005 Netherlands | ![]() |
6 | ![]() |
5 | ![]() |
5 | [17] |
2007 Canada | ![]() |
6 | ![]() |
5 | ![]() |
4 | [18] |
2009 Egypt | ![]() |
8 | ![]() |
5 | ![]() |
4 | [19] |
2011 Colombia | ![]() |
5 | ![]() |
5 | ![]() |
5 | [20] |
2013 Turkey | ![]() |
6 | ![]() |
5 | ![]() |
5 | [21] |
2015 New Zealand | ![]() |
5 | ![]() |
5 | ![]() |
4 | [22] |
2017 South Korea | ![]() |
5 | ![]() |
4 | ![]() |
4 | [23] |
2019 Poland | ![]() |
9 | ![]() |
4 | ![]() |
4 | [24] |
Cancelled | |||||||
2023 |
Golden Glove
The Golden Glove (currently commercially termed "adidas Golden Glove") award is awarded to the best goalkeeper of the tournament.
World Cup | Golden Gloves | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|
2009 Egypt | ![]() |
[19] |
2011 Colombia | ![]() |
[20] |
2013 Turkey | ![]() |
[21] |
2015 New Zealand | ![]() |
[22] |
2017 South Korea | ![]() |
[23] |
2019 Poland | ![]() |
[24] |
Cancelled | ||
2023 |
FIFA Fair Play Trophy
The FIFA Fair Play Trophy is given to the team who has the best fair play record during the tournament with the criteria set by FIFA Fair Play Committee.
Tournament | FIFA Fair Play Trophy= | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|
1977 Tunisia | ![]() |
[3] |
1979 Japan | ![]() |
[4] |
1981 Australia | ![]() |
[5] |
1983 Mexico | ![]() |
[6] |
1985 USSR | ![]() |
[7] |
1987 Chile | ![]() |
[8] |
1989 Saudi Arabia | ![]() |
[9] |
1991 Portugal | ![]() |
[10] |
1993 Australia | ![]() |
[11] |
1995 Qatar | ![]() |
[12] |
1997 Malaysia | ![]() |
[13] |
1999 Nigeria | ![]() |
[14] |
2001 Argentina | ![]() |
[15] |
2003 United Arab Emirates | ![]() |
[16] |
2005 Netherlands | ![]() |
[17] |
2007 Canada | ![]() |
[18] |
2009 Egypt | ![]() |
[19] |
2011 Colombia | ![]() |
[20] |
2013 Turkey | ![]() |
[21] |
2015 New Zealand | ![]() |
[22] |
2017 South Korea | ![]() |
[23] |
2019 Poland | ![]() |
[24] |
Cancelled | ||
2023 |
Records and statistics
- Most World Cup appearances
- 18,
Brazil[25]
- Most consecutive finals tournaments
- 16,
Brazil (1981–2011)
- Most tournament wins (player)
- 2, three players:
- Fernando Brassard (
Portugal; 1989 and 1991)
- João Vieira Pinto (
Portugal; 1989 and 1991)
- Sergio Agüero (
Argentina; 2005 and 2007)
See also
- List of association football competitions
- National team appearances in the FIFA U-20 World Cup
- FIFA U-17 World Cup
- FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
- Toulon Tournament
- Granatkin Memorial
References
- CBC.ca
- "Update on FIFA Women's World Cup™ and men's youth competitions". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 24 December 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
- "FIFA World Youth Championship Tunisia 1977 – Awards". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on July 23, 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- "FIFA World Youth Championship Japan 1979 – Awards". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- "FIFA World Youth Championship Australia 1981 – Awards". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on June 9, 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- "FIFA World Youth Championship Mexico 1983 – Awards". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- "FIFA World Youth Championship USSR 1985 – Awards". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on May 28, 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- "FIFA World Youth Championship Chile 1987 – Awards". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on May 19, 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- "FIFA World Youth Championship Saudi Arabia 1989 – Awards". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- "FIFA World Youth Championship Portugal 1991 – Awards". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on May 19, 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- "FIFA World Youth Championship Australia 1993 – Awards". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- "FIFA World Youth Championship Qatar 1995 – Awards". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on July 11, 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- "FIFA World Youth Championship Malaysia 1997 – Awards". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on July 21, 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- "FIFA World Youth Championship Nigeria 1999 – Awards". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on June 21, 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- "FIFA World Youth Championship Argentina 2001 – Awards". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on July 16, 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- "FIFA World Youth Championship UAE 2003 – Awards". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on June 8, 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- "FIFA World Youth Championship Netherlands 2005 – Awards". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on July 16, 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- "FIFA U20 World Cup Canada 2007 – Awards". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on May 19, 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- "FIFA U20 World Cup Egypt 2009 – Awards". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on June 14, 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- "FIFA U-20 World Cup Colombia 2011 – Awards". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on May 31, 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- "FIFA U-20 World Cup Turkey 2013 – Awards". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on May 19, 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- "Mali's magician Traore nets top honour". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 20 June 2015. Archived from the original on May 31, 2019.
- "Solanke takes home top honour". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 11 June 2017.
- "Lee, Lunin headline award winners at Poland 2019". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 15 June 2019. Archived from the original on June 16, 2019.
- "FIFA U-20 World Cup Final". fifa.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- "FIFA U-20 World Cup 2019: Erling Haaland scores record triple hat-trick as Norway thrash Honduras 12-0". Fox Sports Asia. 31 May 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
External links

- Official website
(in English)
- Tournament archive at Fifa.com (in English)
- World Youth Cup (U-20) Overview at the RSSSF (in English)