Beom Ye-ju was the hero as Korea upset the odds to defeat Argentina 1-0 on Wednesday to book their place in the quarter-finals of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Poland 2026 for the first time since 2014.
Korea will now face either Italy, who beat China in a penalty shootout, in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
The young Taegeuk Ladies started brightly with Beom forcing Priscila Siben into a smart early save.
From the resulting corner, Nam Seung-eun powered a header off the bar, before Jo Hye-young fired the rebound wide.
Jo made up for that miss shortly after in the 33rd minute, scampering in behind the Argentina backline and firing in a cross which fell to Beom to lash home with a smart left-footed finish.
Argentina flipped the script in the second half and dominated the shot count, but struggled to truly test Kim Chae-been.
Mercedes Diz came closest to breaching the Korea Republic defence when her looping header cleared Kim, but came back off the top of the bar.
Down the other end, substitute Park Ju-ha broke clear and could have made the game safe, only to drill her effort wide.
China’s campaign came to a heartbreaking end after losing 5-4 on penalties to Italy following a 1-1 draw in their Round of 16 tie.
China kept pace through the opening four kicks, but their fifth penalty sailed over the crossbar as Italy advanced to the quarter-finals.
After falling behind to Karen Appiah’s first-half strike, the East Asian side responded after the break and were rewarded in the 73rd minute when Wang Dantong’s looping effort was spilled over the line by Italy goalkeeper Elena Belli for an own goal.
China PR pushed Italy onto the back foot after that as they searched for a second, with the Italians struggling to contain the sustained pressure.
The score remained level through regulation time and extra time, with China PR goalkeeper Liu Chen producing a superb save to deny Marta Zamboni and keep her side in the contest.
The tie was ultimately decided from the penalty spot, where Italy converted all five of their attempts.
