Quarterfinal spots up for grabs as U-20 WC action continues

by Staff Reporter

Wednesday Oct 08, 2025. 09:57

Eight nations will attempt to join Mexico and Spain in the FIFA U-20 World Cup quarterfinals as the tournament’s second day of round of 16 action kicks off in Chile.

In Wednesday’s first round of knockout action, kicking off at 9:30pm CAT, Colombia and South Africa face one another at the Estadio Fiscal de Talca in Talca.

Colombia topped group F with five points after two draws and one win in their group stage fixtures.

In its 12th appearance at the competition, the South American nation will be looking to return to the podium. The country’s best performance at the tournament came in 2003 where it claimed the bronze medal.

La Canarinha will look to extend its unbeaten run and get past South Africa to reach the quarterfinals.

The AFCON winners finished second in group E, level on six points with group winners USA and third place France.

Amajita lost to France in their campaign opener but bounced back with wins over New Caledonia and the USA.

South Africa will look to make history and advance to the quarterfinals for the first time in tournament history, having already matched their best performance in the competition.

At the same time, Argentina and Nigeria will clash at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos in Ñuñoa.

Argentina breezed through group play, winning all three of its matches to claim a perfect nine points in group D.

Los Pibes are the most decorated team in tournament history, having won six previous titles. They will be looking to return to the top of the pile for the first time since 2007.

Nigeria scraped through into the round of 16 after finishing third in group F with four points.

The Flying Eagles have not been consistent, winning one, losing one and drawing one of their three group fixtures.

In 13 previous tournament appearances, Nigeria have come close to tasting the grand prize, finishing as runners-up twice (1989, 2005). This year, the Flying Eagles will look to take a step further.

In the day’s late kick-off, at 1am CAT on Thursday, Paraguay tackle Norway at the Estadio Fiscal de Talca.

Paraguay managed to claim second place in group B with four points after a draw, loss and win in the nation’s first three games.

Featuring at the U-20 World Cup for the first time since 2013, Paraguay will aim to better its best performance at the tournament to date, which was a fourth-place finish in 2001.

Norway advanced to the knockout stage after matching group F winners Colombia with two draws, one win, five points and an identical goal difference.

In the nation’s fourth trip to the tournament, the U20-landslaget has produced its best performance, advancing to the knockout stage for the first time. Norway are looking to keep the momentum rolling and go even further.

Meanwhile, Japan and France will face each other at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos.

Alongside Argentina, Japan was the only other nation to claim the maximum nine points from its three group games, winning them all.

The Samurai Blue made it to the final in 1999 where they were defeated by Spain. They will be looking to return to the tournament’s biggest game and claim silverware for the first time.

France finished third in group E, level on points with both the USA and South Africa but behind on goal difference. No other third-placed team in the group stage claimed as many points as the French, who defeated Amajita in their opener before falling to the USA, then rebounding against New Caledonia.

The 2013 champions will be eyeing a return to the final, but await a tough task first.

By Nic Gleeson