World Cup U20: matches and statistics

World Cup U20 (FIFA U-20 World Cup) - an international FIFA national-team tournament that is generally staged every two years. Regulations: the final tournament typically features 24 teams split into six groups of four, with each team playing three group matches, and the standard points system applies (3 for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 for a loss). The top two teams in each group and the four best third-placed teams advance to the knockout stage, which is played as single-elimination with a round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, a third-place play-off and the final. If teams finish level on points in a group, the ranking is decided first by the head-to-head criteria among the tied teams (points, goal difference, goals scored), and if still level by overall goal difference, overall goals scored, team conduct score based on disciplinary cards, and finally the drawing of lots. The ranking of the four best third-placed teams is determined by points, then goal difference, goals scored, team conduct score, and drawing of lots. In the knockout phase, level matches go to extra time (two 15-minute periods) and, if required, a penalty shoot-out, and the final group matchday is generally played simultaneously. Player eligibility and age limits are set by FIFA for each edition, qualification is via confederation pathways, and the host nation typically qualifies automatically.