Nigeria’s Falconets were held to a goalless draw by China in their second Group F fixture at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland on Thursday, leaving their qualification hopes hanging by a thread.
The result means Nigeria have picked up just one point from their opening two games, following their 2-0 defeat to Spain in their first outing.
The Falconets must now defeat New Caledonia in their final group match on Sunday to boost their chances of advancing to the knockout stage.
Nigeria remain third in Group F, behind leaders Spain and second-placed China. Spain have six points and a +13 goal difference after crushing New Caledonia 11-0, while China have four points with a +5 goal difference.
Nigeria, meanwhile, have one point and a -2 goal difference, while New Caledonia are still without a point and have a -16 goal difference.
Despite failing to secure victory against China, the Falconets can still qualify for the round of 16.
Nigeria could finish second if results on the final matchday fall in their favour, especially if Spain defeat China. They could also progress as one of the four best third-placed teams from the six groups.
The stalemate against China, however, leaves the Falconets with little room for error, as their fate will depend on both their performance against New Caledonia and the result between Spain and China.
Spain, meanwhile, secured their place in the knockout rounds for the fifth successive tournament after recording the biggest victory of the 2026 competition so far.
La Rojita overwhelmed tournament debutants New Caledonia 11-0, eclipsing Argentina’s 8-0 win over Benin as the largest margin of victory in Poland.
The scoreline also matched the competition’s biggest-ever winning margin, equalling France’s 11-0 triumph over Fiji in 2024.
Celia Segura grabbed four goals to move level at the top of the adidas Golden Boot standings, while Pau Comendador and Marisa Garcia each scored twice.
Alba Cerrato, Carla Julia and Rosalia Dominguez were also on target as the European champions completed the rout and booked their knockout-stage ticket.
The Falconets will take on New Caledonia in their final Group F match on Sunday.