From Segura to Maltby: six breakout stars from the Women’s Under-20 World Cup

With an incredible array of talent on show we select half a dozen players who could make the step up to the senior World Cup next year The 2026 Under-20 Women’s World Cup is entering the knockout stage in Poland and, after an intriguing group stage, we pick some of the young stars who have stood out.

Celia Segura (Spain and Barcelona) Segura is no stranger to knockout football having helped Spain to silver at the Under-17 World Cup two years ago and finishing with the Bronze Ball and Bronze Boot. She has picked up the mantleagain as La Roja eased through their group. Her four goals against New Caledonia were an illustration of her pure scoring instinct and she has also played a key role with her high technical skills and instinctive ability to both make space for and find her teammates. Her back-heel assist to set up Pau Comendador against China was a memorable one. A product of the Barcelona academy, the 19-year-old forward…