The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup has reached its quarterfinal stage, with Colombia, Brazil, Spain, and the United States securing their spots after dramatic victories. Colombia, the host nation, edged out South Korea 1-0 thanks to a 64th-minute goal from Linda Caicedo, who expressed her joy, saying, ‘It was a great day. I’m very happy to be in my home country, with my people’. Brazil had to dig deep, coming from behind to defeat Cameroon 3-1 in extra time.Spain, the defending champions, showed resilience in a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory over Canada. After falling behind in the 63rd minute, Spain equalized through Lucía Corrales two minutes later, before Lucía Moral scored the winning goal in the 80th minute. Coach Sonia Bermúdez praised her team’s character, stating, ‘The team showed their character and spirit’.The United States secured their quarterfinal berth with a nail-biting 3-2 victory over Mexico in extra time. Despite Mexico twice equalizing during regular time, the US team clinched the win with Jordynn Dudley’s goal in the 98th minute. Mexico’s coach, Ana Galindo, remained positive despite the loss, saying, ‘It was a great day. I’m very proud of my teammates, we fought until the end’.In a separate development, Argentina’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez is facing potential disciplinary action following an incident after Argentina’s 2-1 loss to Colombia in a 2026 World Cup qualifier. Martínez allegedly struck a TV camera operator after the match, leading to calls for sanctions from the Colombian Association of Sports Journalists (ACORD). According to FIFA regulations, Martínez could face a suspension of up to three matches for his actions. The incident has sparked controversy, with ACORD demanding an ‘exemplary punishment’ for what they describe as an ‘attack on freedom of expression’.
Key points
- Colombia, Brazil, Spain, and the United States have advanced to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup quarterfinals with dramatic victories.
- Argentina’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez faces potential suspension for an altercation with a camera operator after a World Cup qualifier loss.
- The Colombian Association of Sports Journalists (ACORD) is calling for sanctions against Martínez, describing his actions as an ‘attack on freedom of expression’.
Contradictions👾There are slight discrepancies in the reported scoreline of the USA vs Mexico match, with some sources reporting 3-2 and others 2-3.
👾The exact length of potential suspension for Emiliano Martínez varies in reports, with some mentioning three matches and others suggesting up to five matches.
