JEONJU, South Korea: Dominic Solanke struck twice as England beat Italy 3-1 to reach the Under-20 World Cup final for the first time in their history on Thursday.
Liverpool-bound Solanke canceled out Riccardo Orsolini’s early opener when he scored in the 66th minute, before Everton’s Ademola Lookman put England 2-1 up 11 minutes later.
With two minutes left, Solanke buried a glorious strike from distance to confirm England’s place in Sunday’s final against Venezuela, who edged Uruguay on penalties.
Neither side has reached the final before and for England, it will be first time they have played a World Cup decider since their 1966 victory in the senior edition.
Solanke and Lookman have been two of the stand-outs for England, who arrived without a victory in the tournament since 1997 — when Michael Owen scored in a 1-0 win over Mexico.
In South Korea, the Young Lions beat Argentina and their Korean hosts in the group stage before knocking out Costa Rica and Mexico en route to the semis.
Venezuela have also enjoyed a charmed run, beating both Japan and the United States in extra time in the previous two rounds before Thursday’s dramatic win over Uruguay.
Venezuela were seconds from elimination when substitute Samuel Sosa curled in a stoppage-time free kick to take it to extra time at 1-1, after Nicolas De La Cruz’s penalty on 49 minutes.
And in the eventual shootout it was De La Cruz who faltered when he saw his crucial shot saved, prompting joyous celebrations by the Venezuelan players.
Solanke fires England into U20 World Cup final
Solanke fires England into U20 World Cup final
2026 PFL MENA season to kick off in Saudi Arabia
- Eastern Province’s Ahmed Albrahim set to make highly anticipated professional debut in Alkhobar
- Bahraini MMA star Hamza Kooheji enters 2026 featherweight tournament for his PFL MENA bow
ALKHOBAR: The Professional Fighters League today announced that the 2026 PFL MENA tournament will kick off on May 8 at Dhahran Expo, Alkhobar, showcasing the best mixed martial arts talent from across the Middle East and North Africa.
The third season of the tournament will feature the best fighters in the featherweight, lightweight and welterweight divisions, alongside a slate of high-profile showcase bouts.
Headlining the opening card will be Salah Eddine Hamli, the reigning 2025 PFL MENA lightweight champion. Hamli’s championship pedigree and growing fanbase make him a centerpiece of PFL MENA’s continued growth.
Ahmed Albrahim will make his long-awaited professional debut in a featured welterweight bout. A native of the Eastern Province, Al-Ibrahim will turn pro at home — a key reason the PFL selected the region to host the season three opener.
His debut represents a milestone moment for local MMA and underscores PFL MENA’s mission to create pathways for homegrown talent to shine on a global stage.
Bahrain’s MMA legend Hamza Kooheji will compete in the featherweight tournament and make his promotional debut on the card. He is one of Bahrain’s most accomplished and recognized fighters.
“We are committed to building PFL MENA where the passion for MMA is strongest,” said Jerome Mazet, general manager of PFL MENA.
“Between Salah’s return, Ahmed making his professional debut in front of his home crowd, and the opportunity to welcome Bahraini fans supporting Hamza Kooheji, this event represents everything PFL MENA stands for: regional pride, elite competition, and unforgettable moments.”
Tickets are on sale from the evening of Feb. 12 and additional fights and event details will be announced in the coming weeks.
