Italy claimed their first-ever U20 Women’s World Cup victory - and they did it in style!
Giada Pellegrino Cimo’s game-winning goal against women’s football powerhouse the United States was an historic one that leaves the Americans in a difficult spot to make it out of the group.
Scroll down to read more about Italy’s shock victory and other results on opening weekend of the 2026 U20 WWC.
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Elsewhere, Ronald Koeman’s son - who is a goalkeeper - scored TWICE in the Eredivisie, Leicester City slipped to new depths in League One and Dusan Vlahovic settled the derby for Besiktas.
Let’s take a look at everything 👇
Something at the U20 WWC 🌍
As a women’s football superpower, the USA was widely fancied as one of the favourites to win the 2026 U20 Women’s World Cup. They were expected to beat Italy in their opening game. Comfortably.
Giada Pellegrino Cimo, however, had other ideas. The Italian midfielder reacted quickest to a goalkeeping error by Caroline Birkel and celebrated like she meant it!
There was also a landmark victory for Ecuador who beat Ghana 3-0 on their U20 Women’s World Cup debut.
Ecuador continues to develop as a real football nation in both the men’s and women’s game. They now stand a real chance of making it out of a challenging group that also includes France and South Korea.
Opening weekend also saw wins for Brazil, Poland and Japan. I’ll be watching the U20 Women’s World Cup closely over the coming weeks. Stay tuned!
Something from the spot
Ok, firstly you need to know that Ronald Koeman’s son is a professional player in the Eredivisie for Telstar.
Secondly, you should know that he’s a goalkeeper. Thirdly, you should know that he’s also called Ronald Koeman.
Fourthly, Koeman Jnr scored from the spot for Telstar against Cambuur on Sunday.
Fifthly, he actually scored TWICE from the spot, becoming the first goalkeeper in Eredivisie history to bag a brace!
Something in League One 🏴
Leicester City’s slide shows no sign of slowing with Saturday’s 4-0 defeat to Oxford United almost certainly the worst result in the club’s modern history.
The Foxes were expected to bounce straight back up being relegated to League One. Instead, they have won just one of their opening five matches.
Russell Martin is under pressure - not for the first time in his managerial career!
Something in CAF 🌍
Al Hilal Omdurman took a big step towards qualifying for this season’s CAF Champions League by beating Aigle Noir of Burundi 2-0 in Saturday’s first leg.
The Blue Wave are currently playing in the Rwandan league system due to the Sudanese civil war. They actually WON the Rwandan title last season. Such an incredible story.
Last season saw Al Hilal reach the CAF Champions League quarter-finals.
Something In Istanbul 🇹🇷
Dusan Vlahovic and the Turkish Super Lig feels like a match made in heaven.
You could tell me that he has been playing for Besiktas for three seasons and I would believe you. As it is, Vlahovic joined in the summer and is already making an impact, scoring the winner in Saturday’s derby against Fenerbahce.
Something unexpected
Former AC Milan and Brazil striker Alexandre Pato is an investor in Northampton Town in the English fourth tier. I’m sure you knew that already just as this newsletter writer did…
Pato attended his first game as a co-owner on Saturday, watching The Cobblers claim a 1-0 win over Newport County. The glamour!
Something Ivorian in Japan 🇨🇮 🇯🇵
You might have missed that Sebastien Haller signed for Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the J-League over the summer. Love that for him.
The former Ajax and Borussia Dortmund striker scored his third J-League goal of the season, but couldn’t prevent Sanfrecce from losing to Fagiano Okayama.
Elsewhere in the Japanese top division, Machida Zelvia have won five of their opening six fixtures to open up a three-point advantage at the top of the table.
Two years ago, Zelvia threatened to pull off a Leicester City-esque fairytale by winning the J-League as a promoted team. I wrote about it for The Soccer Dispatch at the time.
Zelvia have made their place in the top flight stick and are now having another tilt at the championship.
Something from halfway
If there’s a goal scored from the halfway line, you better believe it will be included in this newsletter!
Vilmer Tyrén scored this stunner for Ljungskile in the second division of Swedish football. Has David Beckham ever scored from his ow half in the Swedish second division? I think not!
Something else from halfway
This Stirling Albion-supporting newsletter writer is delighted to bring you an update from Scottish League Two!
Somalian international Ali Omar scored this OUTRAGEOUS freekick from inside his own half for Dumbarton against Elgin City. He made it look so easy. Why doesn’t he do that every week?
Something in honour
Cavan Sullivan is the 16-year-old American phenom lighting up Major League Soccer for the Philadelphia Union at the moment.
The teenager celebrated like LeBron James after scoring in his third game straight. For the non-basketballheads - James has recently joined the Philadelphia 76ers. Just so you know.
Something at the wrong end 🤦♂️
This own goal in the French third division was so bad it naturally raised doubt over whether it was deliberate!
Bastia defender Noah Zilliox put the ball in the back of his own net with the composure of a centre forward. The best-taken own goal in history? Is there a Puskas award for own goals?
Something Scouse in Uruguay 🇺🇾
Liverpool are top of the table! Not that Liverpool and not that table.
Uruguay’s version of the famous Anfield club have enjoyed a strong start to the 2026/27 season, beating Boston River 1-0 on Sunday to keep their place at the top of the Clausura table.
Something chilly 🥶
Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas made her WSL debut for London City Lionesses and is still seemingly getting used to the weather in England.
Putellas gave an interview while chittering in a winter jacket… despite it being the warmest summer in recent British history. Just wait until it gets to February, Alexia!
Something in Saudi 🇸🇦
Notable big game chance-misser Gabriel Martinellu made his debut for Al-Hilal only 24 hours after completing a €70m transfer from Arsenal.
Martinelli was the most expensive signing made by a Saudi Pro League club this summer. Francisco Trincao, Crysencio Summerville, Ollie Watkins and Tijani Reijnders also made the move there.
Something Serbian 🇷🇸
Sunday was the Eternal Derby and Crvena Zvezda fans displayed a giant tifo of General Ratko Mladic before kick off. A minute’s silence was also held.
Mladic, who was known as The Butcher of Bosnia and died recently, oversaw a brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing as Yugoslavia broke apart in the 1990s. Crvena Zvezda’s support of him is… controversial to say the least!
Something with a perm
Hamburg supporters paid tribute to Kevin Keegan who passed away in July.
The Englishman won the Ballon d’Or while playing for the Bundesliga side. That’s impressive enough without the perm. Just look at that hair! What an icon. He’ll be missed.
Some TSD content you might have missed… 🗞️
🏴 Will Scottish football’s crisis summit provide any actual solutions?
All 42 league clubs had a meeting on Friday to come up with a plan!