England’s Young Lionesses aim to Roar again with Defining World Cup Test
With the 2026 FIFA Women’s U20 World Cup now underway in Poland, England's Young Lionesses have already begun their campaign. After their opening group stage matches, there is plenty to catch up on, from the talented squad and newly appointed manager Lydia Bedford’s leadership.
The Round of 16 knockout clash awaits the Young Lionesses this afternoon, where they look to progress to the Quarter Finals and showcase the potential of the future of English football. With a tough opponent in Nigeria, the contest is wide open.
The Tournament so far
England have made a mixed start to their World Cup Campaign, with the Young Lionesses opening their Group B fixtures with a 5-1 victory over Tanzania, putting themselves in a strong position early in the tournament. They followed that up with another impressive result, beating Canada 2-0 before facing a tough final group game against Brazil.
England took the lead through striker Lily Dent, but Brazil fought back in the second half to win 2-1, with the result leaving England with work to do as they look ahead to the knockout stages.
Bedford Leading the Young Lionesses
The squad opened their campaign in a crucial fixture against Canada on Saturday 5th September, with Bedford leading the group following her appointment earlier in the year. With England winning two out of the four matches since Bedford taking charge, as well as a draw and a loss to Japan, it will be interesting to see what she will do to advance the quality of play in this World Cup.
The England pathway is full of potential with players competing to make their mark on the international stage and fuel their long-term ambitions of a senior call-up. Therefore, squad selection, player development, and driven mentality play a huge role in both individual and team successes.
Ones to Watch
One player who has already made a major impact is defender Rachel Maltby. Signed for Aston Villa, Maltby scored a hat trick against Tanzania, including two penalties, and was named player of the match in their important victory. Princess Ademiluyi has also made an impressive mark, scoring against Tanzania after being a constant threat in attack.
Lily Dent is another player to watch, having provided the assist for Maltby’s third goal against Tanzania before scoring England’s opener against Brazil. A player with pace, drive and a clinical finish which could be the difference in Bedford’s England U20 side.
What comes next?
With the group stage providing plenty of positives as well as lessons to learn from, England will now turn their attention to the next stage of the competition. The Young Lionesses will be hoping to build on their strong performances and get as far as possible in Poland, and although they have shown plenty of attacking quality during the tournament, their defeat to Brazil highlighted areas they will need to improve.
Staying composed after taking the lead and maintaining their intensity throughout the full match will be important and with the knockout stages bringing even more pressure, the Young Lionesses will take thought into their group stage performances and make sure they take chances when they come, as well as showcasing their talent which they prepared for in pre season.
Nigeria will be heading into the knockout clash full of confidence following a 10-1 win against New Caledonia in their most recent group stage fixture. With a win, a draw and a loss in the competition so far, Bedford’s side will believe they can secure their place in the final eight despite a physical and demanding match.
With Bedford leading a talented squad, England will be aiming to show that they can compete with some of the best, and potentially bring home the trophy.