The 2026 Women's Under-20 World Cup is happening in Poland right now, and half the football world still isn't paying attention. That's their loss. Because the group stage has already produced some of the most exciting young players we've seen at any level in years, and several of them will be at next summer's senior World Cup in Brazil. Here are the six who have caught our eye.
The names you need to know
Celia Segura is the standout name and deservedly so. The 19-year-old Barcelona product is no stranger to this stage, having won the Bronze Ball and Bronze Boot at the Under-17 World Cup two years ago. She has picked up where she left off, scoring four goals against New Caledonia and producing a backheel assist to set up Pau Comendador against China. She is on a season-long loan at Atlético Madrid after this tournament, and it is hard to imagine that being her level for long.
Annika Paz is 17 years old and already plays for Argentina's senior side, having scored on her debut against Uruguay in 2025, making her their youngest ever goalscorer. She moved to Inter in January, and in Poland she has scored four against Benin and the opener in a 3-2 win over Mexico. Her pace, composure and movement are frightening for someone her age.
Rachel Maltby has been England's best player here, and the Aston Villa forward deserves a bigger conversation off the back of it. Four goals and an assist, with three of those goals coming from the penalty spot, which she can take with either foot. She switches between left-back and left wing without dropping her level. England are through to the last 16, and Maltby is a big reason why. For those following the [WSL talking points](/uprise/football/wsl-talking-points-olid-must-weather-united-storm-arsenal-wasteful) this season, this is the next level of the pipeline worth watching.
Annabelle Chukwu came off the bench to score against England in a 1-1 draw and then added two more in a 6-0 rout of Tanzania. The 19-year-old Notre Dame student holds the record for most goals scored for Canada's youth teams, with 28 in 34 appearances. She made her senior debut in June. Casey Stoney will have her eye on her for Brazil.
Huang Jiaxin is a centre-back who scored a hat-trick in 12 minutes against New Caledonia. Read that again. Her manager Wang Jun has already said publicly he hopes she can move to Europe. At 20, with a home World Cup coming, the timing could not be better for her.
Evelin rounds out the list and represents Brazil in more than one sense. The 18-year-old Santos forward scored two goals against Tanzania and registered two assists to help her side through to the knockout stage. Small but relentless, she made her senior debut in April 2026 and will be playing in front of her home crowd next summer if she keeps this up.
Our verdict
[Alessia Russo is among the senior Ballon d'Or nominees](/uprise/football/harry-kane-and-alessia-russo-among-nominees-for-this-years) this year, which tells you everything about where the women's game is in terms of profile. But the players coming through, the ones featured here, suggest the generation beneath is even more exciting. Maltby for England, Paz for Argentina, Evelin for Brazil. These are not prospects. They are already here.