Tables coming soon….
This page covers the FIFA U-20 World Cup, the men’s world championship for national teams of players aged 20 and under, and the live table below shows the group placings for the current or most recent edition. The tournament is held every two years. The 2025 finals in Chile ended with Morocco winning their first title, and the next edition is set for Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan in 2027. Read the table first for positions and points, then use the sections underneath for the format, the verified 2025 results, New Zealand’s record and how to follow the competition.
Quick Facts
| Competition | FIFA U-20 World Cup (men, under-20) |
|---|---|
| Current holders | Morocco (2025, first title) |
| 2025 host | Chile, 27 September – 19 October 2025 |
| 2025 final | Morocco 2-0 Argentina (Santiago) |
| Format | 24 teams, six groups of four |
| Knockout spots | Top two per group + four best third-placed teams |
| Next edition | Uzbekistan & Azerbaijan, 17 Sep – 9 Oct 2027 |
| New Zealand best result | Round of 16 (2015, 2017, 2019, 2023) |
| Follow in NZ | TVNZ (free) and FIFA+ (where available) |
What is the FIFA U-20 World Cup?
The FIFA U-20 World Cup is a biennial football tournament for national teams whose players are under 20 at the start of the qualifying year. FIFA first held it in 1977 (then called the World Youth Championship) and renamed it in 2007. It is one of the sport’s most-watched youth events and has launched many future senior World Cup stars. Argentina are the record champions with six titles, though they did not add a seventh in 2025.
Teams reach the finals through their continental youth tournaments — in Oceania through the OFC U-19 Championship — while the host nation qualifies automatically. Because squads turn over every cycle, the standings tell you how the current crop of teams is performing rather than any long-running league position.
How the 24-team format works
The finals feature 24 teams drawn into six groups of four. Each team plays the other three in its group once, earning three points for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss. The top two teams in every group advance to the round of 16, and they are joined by the four best third-placed teams across all six groups. That produces the 16 teams for a straight knockout bracket: round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, a third-place play-off and the final.
The best third-placed rule
Six groups produce six third-placed teams, but only four knockout slots remain after the group winners and runners-up. FIFA ranks all six third-placed teams against each other — by points first, then goal difference, then goals scored, and further tiebreakers if needed — and the top four go through. In 2025 that meant Spain, South Korea, France and Nigeria advanced as best thirds, while Egypt and Australia were eliminated despite finishing third in their groups.
How to read these standings
If the columns in the table are unfamiliar, our guide to how to read a sports standings table walks through every row and column, the glossary of standings table abbreviations explains labels such as P, W, D, L, GD and Pts, and our explainer on how points and tiebreakers work covers what happens when teams finish level. You can also browse more sports standings and results explained across the site.
FIFA U-20 World Cup 2025: final tables and results
The 2025 edition ran from 27 September to 19 October 2025 across four Chilean cities — Santiago, Valparaíso, Talca and Rancagua. Morocco won their first U-20 world title, beating Argentina 2-0 in the final at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago. Colombia finished third and France fourth. Because this tournament is complete, the group tables below are the verified final standings rather than a live snapshot.
Group stage final standings
Group A
| Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | +7 | 9 |
| Chile | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 3 |
| Egypt | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 3 |
| New Zealand | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 3 |
Group B
| Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ukraine | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 7 |
| Paraguay | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| South Korea | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| Panama | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 1 |
Group C
| Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morocco | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 6 |
| Mexico | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 5 |
| Spain | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 4 |
| Brazil | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 1 |
Group D
| Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | +6 | 9 |
| Italy | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| Australia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 3 |
| Cuba | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | -4 | 1 |
Group E
| Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 3 | +10 | 6 |
| South Africa | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 6 |
| France | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4 | +4 | 6 |
| New Caledonia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 20 | -19 | 0 |
Group F
| Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colombia | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 5 |
| Norway | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 5 |
| Nigeria | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Saudi Arabia | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 1 |
Knockout results
Round of 16: Spain 1-0 Ukraine; Mexico 4-1 Chile; Argentina 4-0 Nigeria; Colombia 3-1 South Africa; Norway 1-0 Paraguay (after extra time); France 1-0 Japan (after extra time); United States 3-0 Italy; Morocco 2-1 South Korea.
Quarter-finals: Colombia 3-2 Spain; Argentina 2-0 Mexico; Morocco 3-1 United States; France 2-1 Norway.
Semi-finals: Morocco 1-1 France (Morocco won 5-4 on penalties); Argentina 1-0 Colombia.
Third-place play-off: Colombia 1-0 France.
Final: Morocco 2-0 Argentina.
New Zealand at the U-20 World Cup
New Zealand have reached eight U-20 World Cup finals, first qualifying in 2007, and their best result is the round of 16, achieved four times — in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2023. The 2019 run in Poland, where the Junior All Whites lost to Colombia in the last 16, remains their highest finish.
At Chile 2025 New Zealand were drawn in Group A with hosts Chile, Japan and Egypt. They lost 2-1 to Chile, beat Egypt 2-1, then lost 3-0 to a dominant Japan side. Three points left them level with Chile and Egypt, but a goal difference of -3 placed them fourth in the group, so they exited at the group stage. New Zealand qualify for the finals through Oceania, where they are the region’s strongest youth side.
The next edition: 2027 in Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan
The next FIFA U-20 World Cup will be co-hosted by Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan from 17 September to 9 October 2027. It keeps the 24-team, six-group format, with qualification again coming through the continental youth championships during 2026 and early 2027. It is the first time the two countries have staged the tournament.
How to follow the U-20 World Cup from New Zealand
In New Zealand, TVNZ holds free coverage of FIFA’s youth tournaments, including the men’s U-20 World Cup, as part of a wider FIFA rights deal, so matches are available free through TVNZ’s platforms. FIFA’s own streaming service, FIFA+, also carries FIFA tournaments free in many territories, though availability varies by country, so check whether it is offered in New Zealand for a given edition.
Expect a large time difference for most editions. For Chile 2025, which is around 16 hours behind New Zealand, matches generally fell in the New Zealand morning and early afternoon; for Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan in 2027, kick-offs will land in the New Zealand evening and overnight. Confirm exact kick-off times (NZDT or NZST depending on the date) on TVNZ or FIFA+ closer to each tournament.
Key Points
- The live table above shows group placings for the current or most recent edition; this page explains what they mean.
- 24 teams play in six groups of four; the top two per group plus the four best third-placed teams reach the round of 16.
- Morocco won the 2025 final in Chile, beating Argentina 2-0 for their first U-20 world title.
- New Zealand exited in the group stage in 2025 (Group A) and have reached the round of 16 four times.
- The next edition runs 17 September – 9 October 2027 in Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who won the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup?
Morocco won their first U-20 world title, beating Argentina 2-0 in the final in Santiago on 19 October 2025. Colombia finished third and France fourth.
How many teams play and how do they reach the knockouts?
Twenty-four teams play in six groups of four. The top two in each group plus the four best third-placed teams advance to a 16-team knockout bracket that ends with the final.
What is the best third-placed rule?
Six groups produce six third-placed teams, but only four knockout places are left. FIFA ranks all six against each other on points, then goal difference, then goals scored and further tiebreakers, and the top four go through.
How did New Zealand do at the U-20 World Cup?
New Zealand exited in the group stage at Chile 2025, finishing fourth in Group A on three points. Their best result overall is the round of 16, reached in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2023.
Where and when is the next U-20 World Cup?
The next edition runs from 17 September to 9 October 2027, co-hosted by Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan, keeping the 24-team format.