Nigeria’s Flying Eagles, Falconets have new targets as FIFA announces hosts for U20 Men, Women World Cup

The world football governing body, FIFA, has announced Chile as the host of the 2025 U20 World Cup, Soccernet.ng reports.

FIFA also revealed that the 2026 U20 Women’s World Cup will be played in Poland.

Chile, which most recently hosted the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2015, earned FIFA’s approval thanks to the country’s organisational experience coupled with the passion of the Chilean fans, according to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

Poland hosted the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2019, and the European nation got the chance to host the women’s edition of the global showpiece in 2026.

Twenty-four nations will participate in both the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2025 and the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2026, with four slots each for Asia, Africa, North and Central America, and South America.

They will be joined by five European nations, two Oceanian countries, and the host nation.
Nigeria will look to be one of the four countries that will fly Africa’s flags at the two tournaments.

Seven-time African champions Nigeria have never won the U20 World Cup, with the Flying Eagles’ best outing being two runners-up finishes in 1989 and 2005.

The Flying Eagles were at the 2023 edition, reaching the quarterfinals after knocking out hosts Argentina. Uruguay eventually won the tournament, with the South Americans lifting their first title after beating Italy in the final.

For the Women’s U20 World Cup, Nigeria have qualified for every edition of the event.

The Falconets have been runners-up twice, losing to Germany on both occasions, in 2010 and 2014.

At the last edition in Costa Rica, Nigeria finished top of a group that had France, South Korea, and Canada after beating all three teams to amass nine points.

However, the Falconets stumbled to a 2-0 defeat to the Netherlands in the quarterfinals.