Sports 11 September 2026

One point, and it took Portugal until 2026 to get it at a Under-20 Women's World Cup

A goalless draw with Colombia in Lodz gave Portugal its first ever point at the tournament. Qualification for the last 16 comes down to Sunday's meeting with Costa Rica in Sosnowiec.

Portugal drew 0-0 with Colombia in Lodz on Thursday and collected the first point in its history at a FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. This is the first time the country has played the tournament at this age group at all.

It felt like a point dropped rather than won. Goalkeeper Nair Pina was probably the best player on the pitch, with two decisive saves before the break, and Portugal created enough to take all three: Rita Melo hit the crossbar, and in the closing seconds, with Colombia down to ten after Lina Arboleda was sent off for kicking Luana Bessa, Inês Meninas struck the post.

Marisa Gomes had already lost Joana Valente to injury after 15 minutes. Neide Guedes, Anna Marques and Francisca Castro all came close. It was a firm answer to the opening 2-0 defeat by holders Korea DPR.

What Sunday decides

The final round of Group E sends Portugal against Costa Rica on Sunday, kicking off at 16:00 local time in Sosnowiec, an hour earlier on the Portuguese mainland. A win could bring second place in the group, or qualification as one of the best third-placed teams. Korea DPR are already through.

Portugal earned the trip to Poland by reaching the semi-finals of the 2025 U19 European Championship. The tournament runs to 27 September, with the final in Lodz, the same city where this squad prised out its first point.

Portuguese women’s football has had a crowded calendar lately: back home the Liga BPI is starting with 236 professional players out of 412 registered, the highest figure it has recorded, and that league is where most of this generation comes from. Unlike the generations before them, this one now knows what a World Cup point feels like.

By Vasco Almada

Image: FIFA / Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

Sports 19 September 2026

Watching the clássico from abroad? Porto host Benfica at 20:30 Lisbon time on Sunday

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Sports 18 September 2026

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Bar chart of points for the Liga's top four after six rounds: FC Porto 18, Benfica 16, Sporting 14, Santa Clara 14.

Sports 14 September 2026

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Sports 12 September 2026

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Chart of professional players per club in the 2026/27 Liga BPI: Sporting 34, Benfica 29, FC Porto 23

Sports 11 September 2026

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Sports 10 September 2026

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Bar chart of Portugal's Mediterranean Games medal totals: 24 at Tarragona 2018, 25 at Oran 2022 and 32 at Taranto 2026

Sports 8 September 2026

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