The 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup was the 6th edition of the tournament. The tournament was played in Japan from 19 August to 8 September with sixteen national football teams and marked the first hosting of a FIFA women's tournament in the country.
The host nation was to be decided on 19 March 2010 but was postponed by FIFA to give bidders more time to prepare their bids.
On 3 March 2011, FIFA initially awarded the World Cup to Uzbekistan. However, on 18 December 2011 FIFA had the tournament stripped from this country for problems with the bid and named Japan as a possible host. Japan was officially announced as host on 8 February 2012.
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Bids and hosting problems
Vietnam had originally won the right the host the tournament. However, the country had to withdraw its bid because it could not guarantee government backing and found the FIFA bid process "taxing".
New Zealand had initially been asked to be ready as a backup venue, but was eventually awarded the 2015 FIFA U-20 Men's World Cup and FIFA then awarded the hosting rights to Uzbekistan. However, in its meeting in Tokyo in December 2011, FIFA's Executive Committee decided to cancel Uzbekistan's hosting of the tournament due to "a number of logistical and technical issues" and announced that Japan had been proposed as its new organiser.
The Uzbekistan Football Federation had recommended six cities to host the matches. They were Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Qarshi, Mubarek and Guzar. The competition would have taken place in Tashkent's Pakhtakor and Bunyodkor Stadiums, Samarkand's Olympic Stadium, Bukhara's Markaziy Stadium, Qarshi's Nasaf Stadium, Mubarek's Bahrom Vafoev Stadium and the Guzar Stadium.
Host cities and venues
On 31 March 2012, FIFA announced five stadiums for the tournament. Miyagi Stadium was the only stadium previously used for a FIFA tournament, one of ten Japanese venues for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Qualified teams
Notes
Squads
Each team submitted a squad of 21 players, including three goalkeepers. The squads were announced on 10 August 2012.
Match officials
A total of 14 referees and 28 assistant referees were appointed by FIFA for the tournament.
Final draw
The final draw was held on 4 June 2012 in Tokyo. Teams were placed in four pots:
Pot 1: Hosts and continental champions of the AFC, CONCACAF and CONMEBOL
Pot 2: Remaining teams from AFC and CONCACAF
Pot 3: Teams from UEFA
Pot 4: Teams from CAF, OFC and remaining team from CONMEBOL
Group stage
The ranking of each team in each group will be determined as follows:
greatest number of points obtained in all group matches
goal difference in all group matches
greatest number of goals scored in all group matches
If two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above three criteria, their rankings will be determined as follows:
greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned
goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned
greatest number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned
drawing of lots by the FIFA Organising Committee
The two teams finishing first and second in each group qualify for the quarter-finals.
All times are Japanese Standard Time (UTC+9).
Group C
North Korea's 9–0 win over Argentina set a new competition record as highest win.
Knockout stage
In the knockout stages, if a match is level at the end of normal playing time, extra time shall be played (two periods of 15 minutes each) and followed, if necessary, by kicks from the penalty mark to determine the winner, except for the play-off for third place where no extra time shall be played as the match is played directly before the final.
Awards
The following awards were given for the tournament:
Goalscorers
7 goals
Kim Un-hwa
6 goals
5 goals
4 goals
3 goals
2 goals
1 goal
Own Goal