Spain head coach David Aznar says his side are determined to begin the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup with victory when they face Nigeria’s Falconets in their opening Group F match on Monday.
The 2018 champions will meet Nigeria at Stadion Sosnowiec, with kick-off scheduled for 5pm Nigeria time.
Aznar has made clear that Spain’s ambitions extend beyond simply progressing from the group stage. The coach believes his squad is capable of challenging for the trophy, although he insists the team will approach the tournament with humility and focus on each match individually.
“We’re always ambitious. We’re Spain and we want to win everything. We’ll approach the tournament as we always do – with humility and by taking it one game at a time,” Aznar was quoted as saying by FIFA.com.
“That said, we believe we have a competitive team and have complete faith in this group. Our ambitions are high and we will go to the World Cup aiming to win it.”
Spain will be seeking to establish an early position of strength against a Nigeria team that is also aiming for a positive start to its Group F campaign.
La Rojita arrive with a squad that includes several players who represented Spain at the 2024 and 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cups. Their previous experience at international youth level is expected to form part of the team’s preparations for the meeting with the Falconets.
For Aznar, the opening fixture provides the first opportunity to put Spain’s title ambitions into practice. The coach has challenged his players to combine their confidence in the squad with the disciplined approach he outlined before the tournament.
Spain’s status as 2018 champions adds to the expectations surrounding their campaign, while Nigeria will be looking to match their opponents’ intensity as both teams begin their journey in Group F.
The fixture at Stadion Sosnowiec is the first test of Spain’s bid to make a strong impression at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. A winning start would give Aznar’s team early momentum and reinforce their stated aim of competing for the title.
The Falconets, meanwhile, will be determined to prevent Spain from setting the tone for the group and will also target a result that gives them a firm foundation for the matches ahead.