Argentina and DPR Korea Win in U-17 World Cup
Argentina defeated New Zealand 2-0 as DPR Korea secured a 6-1 victory against Poland in Morocco.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Soccer
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Argentina secured a 2-0 win over New Zealand behind two goals from Mercedes Diz, while DPR Korea dominated Poland in a 6-1 victory. The results come during the second round of group stage play in the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.
Why it matters
The victories advance the standing of both teams in the tournament, highlighted by record-setting offensive performances on the global stage. These matches showcased emerging talent in international youth soccer.
Tournament leader Yu Jong-hyang scored two goals for DPR Korea to reach a record 12 total goals. Additionally, Nicola Galuszka scored a long-range goal from 25 yards for Poland during their match.
The players
Yu Jong-hyang
She is the all-time leading goalscorer of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup with 12 career goals.
Mercedes Diz
She is an Argentine forward who scored two goals during the match against New Zealand.
FIFA
This is the international governing body for association football responsible for organizing the U-17 Women's World Cup.
The details
Mercedes Diz led Argentina with a header from a Brunella Pilati cross and a left-footed volley off a Violeta Alvarez delivery. DPR Korea saw multi-goal contributions from Kim Won-sim and Yu Jong-hyang alongside goals from Ri Ye-rim and Ri Ui-gyong.
Timeline
October 20, 2026: Matches were played in the second round of the group stage.
Season Trajectory
The performance by Yu Jong-hyang updates the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup all-time goalscoring record previously held by past tournament stars. Her milestone effort establishes a new benchmark for future competitions, further separating her performance from the historical tournament average.
Yu Jong-hyang now holds the record for most goals scored in the history of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup with 12. These match results impact the current group stage standings and determine which teams remain in contention for the knockout phase.
The takeaway
The tournament continues to highlight the offensive dominance of teams like DPR Korea as players reach new historical scoring milestones. Fans should monitor group stage progression to see how these results influence the bracket for the remainder of the competition.
Further reading
For more on ongoing matches and standings, check the Soccer section.
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