FIFA U-20 World Cup

FIFA U-20 World Cup
Founded 1977
Region International (FIFA)
Number of teams 24
Current champions  Ghana
Most successful team  Argentina (6 titles)
Website FIFA.com

The FIFA U-20 World Cup, until 2005 known as the FIFA World Youth Championship, is the world championship of football for male players under the age of 20 and is organized by Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). The Championship has been awarded every two years since the first tournament in 1977 held in Tunisia[1].

In the seventeen tournaments held, only eight nations have won the title. Argentina is the most successful team with six titles, followed by Brazil with four titles. Portugal won two titles, while Ghana, Germany, Spain, and formerly existing nations Soviet Union and Yugoslavia have won the title once each.

A corresponding event for women's teams, the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, began in 2002 with the name "FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship" and an age limit of 19. The age limit for the women's competition was changed to 20 beginning with the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship, and the competition was renamed as a "World Cup" in 2007 in preparation for the 2008 event.

The men's 2009 tournament was played in Egypt; the 2011 tournament will be played in Colombia.

Contents

Qualification

This competition, which was also known as the FIFA Coca-Cola Cup until 1997, features 24 teams in the final tournament. 23 countries, including the defending champions, have to qualify in the six confederations Youth Championships. The host country automatically qualifies.

Confederation Championship
AFC (Asia) AFC U-19 Championship
CAF (Africa) African Youth Championship
CONCACAF (North, Central America and Caribbean) CONCACAF Under-20 Championship
CONMEBOL (South America) South American Youth Championship
OFC (Oceania) OFC Under 20 Qualifying Tournament
UEFA (Europe) UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship

Results

Summaries

Year Host Final Third Place Match
Champion Score Second Place Third Place Score Fourth Place
1977
Details
 Tunisia
Soviet Union
2–2 a.e.t.
(9–8 PSO)

Mexico

Brazil
4–0
Uruguay
1979
Details
 Japan
Argentina
3–1
Soviet Union

Uruguay
1–1 a.e.t.
(5–3 PSO)

Poland
1981
Details
 Australia
West Germany
4–0
Qatar

Romania
1–0
England
1983
Details
 Mexico
Brazil
1–0
Argentina

Poland
2–1 a.e.t.
Korea Republic
1985
Details
 Soviet Union
Brazil
1–0 a.e.t.
Spain

Nigeria
0–0 a.e.t.
(3–1 PSO)

Soviet Union
1987
Details
 Chile
Yugoslavia
1–1 a.e.t.
(5–4 PSO)

West Germany

East Germany
2–2 a.e.t.
(3–1 PSO)

Chile
1989
Details
 Saudi Arabia
Portugal
2–0
Nigeria

Brazil
2–0
United States
1991
Details
 Portugal
Portugal
0–0 a.e.t.
(4–2 PSO)

Brazil

Soviet Union
1–1 a.e.t.
(5–4 PSO)

Australia
1993
Details
 Australia
Brazil
2–1
Ghana

England
2–1
Australia
1995
Details
 Qatar
Argentina
2–0
Brazil

Portugal
3–2
Spain
1997
Details
 Malaysia
Argentina
2–1
Uruguay

Republic of Ireland
2–1
Ghana
1999
Details
 Nigeria
Spain
4–0
Japan

Mali
1–0
Uruguay
2001
Details
 Argentina
Argentina
3–0
Ghana

Egypt
1–0
Paraguay
2003
Details
 United Arab Emirates
Brazil
1–0
Spain

Colombia
2–1
Argentina
2005
Details
 Netherlands
Argentina
2–1
Nigeria

Brazil
2–1
Morocco
2007
Details
 Canada
Argentina
2–1
Czech Republic

Chile
1–0
Austria
2009
Details
 Egypt
Ghana
0–0
(4–3 PSO)

Brazil

Hungary
1–1
(2–0 PSO)

Costa Rica
2011
Details
 Colombia

Performances by countries

Below are the 28 nations that have reached at least the semifinal in the U-20 World Cup finals. Argentina is the most successful nation, leading with six titles, seven appearances in the final and one fourth place finish.

Team Titles Runners-up Third place Fourth place
 Argentina 6 (1979, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2007) 1 (1983) 1 (2003)
 Brazil 4 (1983, 1985, 1993, 2003) 3 (1991, 1995, 2009) 3 (1977, 1989, 2005)
 Portugal 2 (1989, 1991) 1 (1995)
 Ghana 1 (2009) 2 (1993, 2001) 1 (1997)
 Spain 1 (1999) 2 (1985, 2003) 1 (1995)
 Soviet Union 1 (1977) 1 (1979) 1 (1991) 1 (1985)
 Germany 1 (19811) 1 (19871) 1 (19872)
 Yugoslavia 1 (1987)
 Nigeria 2 (1989, 2005) 1 (1985)
 Uruguay 1 (1997) 1 (1979) 2 (1977, 1999)
 Czech Republic 1 (2007)
 Japan 1 (1999)
 Mexico 1 (1977)
 Qatar 1 (1981)
 Chile 1 (2007) 1 (1987)
 England 1 (1993) 1 (1981)
 Poland 1 (1983) 1 (1979)
 Colombia 1 (2003)
 Egypt 1 (2001)
 Hungary 1 (2009)
 Republic of Ireland 1 (1997)
 Mali 1 (1999)
 Romania 1 (1981)
 Australia 2 (1991, 1993)
 Austria 1 (2007)
 Costa Rica 1 (2009)
 Korea Republic 1 (1983)
 Morocco 1 (2005)
 Paraguay 1 (2001)
 United States 1 (1989)
1 = as West Germany
2 = as East Germany

Performances by continental zones

All continents except Oceania had made the appearance in the final match of the tournament. To date, South America leads with ten titles following by Europe with six titles and Africa with one title. Teams from Asia and North America entered the final match three times, but were disappointed by either one of the two traditional football power continents. Fourth place remains as the best result ever for Oceania, which was achieved in 1993.

Confederation (continent) Performances
CONMEBOL (South America) 10 titles, won by Argentina (6) and Brazil (4)
UEFA (Europe) 6 titles, won by Portugal (2), Spain (1), USSR (1), Germany (1) and Yugoslavia (1)
CAF (Africa) 1 title, won by Ghana
AFC (Asia) Runners-up (Japan, 1999 and Qatar, 1981)
CONCACAF (North, Central America and Caribbean) Runners-up (Mexico, 1977)
OFC (Oceania) Fourth-place (Australia, 1991 and 1993)

Awards

adidas Golden Ball

The adidas Golden Ball award is awarded to the player who plays the most outstanding football during the tournament. It is selected by the media poll.

Tournament Golden Ball Winner
1977 Tunisia Soviet Union Volodymyr Bessonov
1979 Japan Argentina Diego Maradona
1981 Australia Romania Romulus Gabor
1983 Mexico Brazil Geovani
1985 USSR Brazil Paulo Silas
1987 Chile Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Robert Prosinečki
1989 Saudi Arabia Brazil Bismarck
1991 Portugal Portugal Emílio Peixe
1993 Australia Brazil Adriano
1995 Qatar Brazil Caio
1997 Malaysia Uruguay Andrés Nicolás Olivera
1999 Nigeria Mali Seydou Keita
2001 Argentina Argentina Javier Saviola
2003 United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates Ismail Matar
2005 Netherlands Argentina Lionel Messi
2007 Canada Argentina Sergio Agüero
2009 Egypt Ghana Dominic Adiyiah

adidas Golden Shoe

The adidas Golden Shoe is awarded to the topscorer of the tournament. If more than one players are equal by same goals, the players will be selected based by the most assists during the tournament.

Tournament Golden Shoe Award Goals
1977 Tunisia Brazil Guina 4
1979 Japan Argentina Ramón Díaz 8
1981 Australia Australia Mark Koussas 4
1983 Mexico Brazil Geovani 6
1985 Soviet Union Spain Sebastián Losada 3
1987 Chile West Germany Marcel Witeczek 7
1989 Saudi Arabia Soviet Union Oleg Salenko 5
1991 Portugal Soviet Union Sergei Sherbakov 5
1993 Australia Colombia Henry Zambrano 3
1995 Qatar Spain Joseba Etxeberria 7
1997 Malaysia Brazil Adaílton Martins Bolzan 10
1999 Nigeria Spain Pablo Couñago 5
2001 Argentina Argentina Javier Saviola 11
2003 United Arab Emirates United States Eddie Johnson 4
2005 Netherlands Argentina Lionel Messi 6
2007 Canada Argentina Sergio Agüero 6
2009 Egypt Ghana Dominic Adiyiah 8

FIFA Fair Play Award

FIFA Fair Play Award is given to the team who has the best fair play record during the tournament with the criteria set by FIFA Fair Play Committee.

Tournament FIFA Fair Play Award
1977 Tunisia  Brazil
1979 Japan  Poland
1981 Australia  Australia
1983 Mexico  Korea Republic
1985 USSR  Colombia
1987 Chile  West Germany
1989 Saudi Arabia  United States
1991 Portugal  Soviet Union
1993 Australia  England
1995 Qatar  Japan
1997 Malaysia  Argentina
1999 Nigeria  Croatia
2001 Argentina  Argentina
2003 United Arab Emirates  Colombia
2005 Netherlands  Colombia
2007 Canada  Japan
2009 Egypt  Brazil

External links

references

  1. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/fifau20/history/index.html CBC.ca