The U-20 World Cup group stage has come to an end. A total of 107 goals were netted during the opening round. FIFA looks at some of the best statistics
45,547
Some 45,547 spectators packed into Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos to watch the tournament’s curtain-raiser, as the host nation defeated New Zealand thanks to a 97th-minute Ian Garguez winner.
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250
Iago Teodoro’s penalty for Brazil against Morocco ensured the Seleção became the first nation to score 250 goals at the U-20 World Cup.
94
New Caledonia became the 94th team to debut at these finals when they faced USA on matchday one.
58
Substitute Nathan Walker was on the field for just 58 seconds before winning New Zealand a penalty against Chile on opening day.
The forward dusted himself down and converted it himself.
36
Japan became the first AFC nation to win all three of their group matches since Iraq 36 years ago at Saudi Arabia 1989.
32
Of players who scored in more than one match, Argentina’s Ian Subiabre had the best goals-to-minutes ratio in the groups.
He scored every 32 minutes on average, with strikes against Cuba and Australia in Group D.
24
All 24 nations scored in the group stage for the first time since New Zealand 2015. Saudi Arabia were last to the party, with Amar Al Yuhaybi netting 21 minutes into their defeat to Nigeria on matchday two.
It’s the quickest every team has found the net since Qatar 1995.
16
At 16 years and 352 days, Gilberto Mora became the youngest player to score at Chile 2025 when he netted against Spain.
14
Ukraine extended their unbeaten run at the U-20 World Cup to 14 games.
Only Brazil (1989-1995, 18 matches), Argentina (2005-2015, 19 matches), and Brazil (2009-2015, 20 matches) have enjoyed longer streaks.
11
Spain have now advanced from the group stages in 11 straight participations at these finals , the longest active streak in tournament history.
They last failed to reach the knockouts at Saudi Arabia 1989. Nigeria sit just behind them on ten.
10
There were ten cards handed out (nine yellows, one red) in the Group B clash between Korea Republic and Paraguay.
That’s the most in an U-20 World Cup match since 12 cards were shown in Hungary’s 3-2 quarter-final victory over Italy at Egypt 2009, where eight players were booked once, two were booked twice and a further two received straight reds.
5
Morocco ensured an African team would top a group for a fifth tournament in a row.
They follow Ghana in 2015, Zambia in 2017, Senegal in 2019 and The Gambia in 2023.
3
France became the third team in U-20 World Cup history to advance from the groups in third place with six points.
Cameroon were first to do it at Nigeria 1999, before the Flying Eagles themselves managed it at Argentina 2023.
2
In Cuba’s 2-2 draw with Italy, Michael Camejo became the first player to score a brace of penalties in an U-20 World Cup match since Erik Lamela in Argentina’s 2-1 win over Egypt at Colombia 2011.
Two goalkeepers recorded assists in the group stage: Saudi Arabia’s Hamed Yousef against Nigeria, and Norway’s Sander Ostraat against Saudi Arabia. The last time a pair of shot-stoppers recorded assists in the first round was at Türkiye 2013, with both Korea Republic’s Lee Changgeun and Mali’s Germain Berthe managing the feat.
1
Five-time champions Brazil failed to make it out of the group stage for the first time.
