1991 FIFA World Youth Championship

Last updated
1991 FIFA World Youth Championship
Campeonato Mundial de Júniores
Portugal '91
1991 FIFA World Youth Championship.png
Tournament details
Host countryPortugal
Dates14–30 June
Teams16 (from 6 confederations)
Venue(s)5 (in 5 host cities)
Final positions
ChampionsFlag of Portugal (official).svg  Portugal (2nd title)
Runners-upFlag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg  Brazil
Third placeFlag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Fourth placeFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Tournament statistics
Matches played32
Goals scored82 (2.56 per match)
Attendance731,500 (22,859 per match)
Top scorer(s) Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Serhiy Scherbakov
(5 goals)
Best player(s) Flag of Portugal (official).svg Emílio Peixe
Fair play awardFlag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
1989
1993

The 1991 FIFA World Youth Championship was the eighth staging of the FIFA World Youth Championship, an international football competition organized by FIFA for men's youth national teams, and the eighth since it was established in 1977 as the FIFA World Youth Tournament. The final tournament took place for the first time in Portugal, between 14 and 30 June 1991. Matches were played across five venues in as many cities: Faro, Braga, Guimarães, Porto and Lisbon. Nigeria originally won the bid to host but was stripped of its right after found guilty for committing age fabrication. [1]

Contents

North Korea and South Korea competed for the first time as a united team, although FIFA attributes its historical data to South Korea. [2] Portugal entered the competition as the defending champions, after winning the previous tournament. They reached the final, where a record attendance of 127,000 witnessed the hosts defeat Portuguese-speaking rival Brazil 4–2 on penalties to secure their second consecutive title. The Soviet Union made its last FIFA tournament appearance, as the country was dissolved later that year.

Qualification

In addition to the host team, Portugal, 15 other national teams qualified from six continental tournaments.

ConfederationQualifying tournamentQualifier(s)
AFC (Asia) 1990 AFC Youth Championship Unification flag of Korea.svg Korea 1
Flag of Syria (2025-).svg  Syria
CAF (Africa) 1991 African Youth Championship Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt
CONCACAF (North, Central America & Caribbean) 1990 CONCACAF U-20 Tournament Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 1
CONMEBOL (South America) 1991 South American Youth Championship Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina
Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg  Brazil
Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay
OFC (Oceania) 1990 OFC U-20 Championship Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
UEFA (Europe) Host nationFlag of Portugal (official).svg  Portugal
1990 UEFA European Under-18 Championship Flag of England.svg  England
Flag of Ireland.svg  Republic of Ireland
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 1
1. ^ Teams that made their debut.

Match officials

Squads

For a list of all squads that played in the final tournament, see 1991 FIFA World Youth Championship squads

Group stages

The 16 teams were split into four groups of four teams. Four group winners, and four second-place finishers qualify for the knockout round.

Group A

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsGroup stage result
1Flag of Portugal (official).svg  Portugal (H)330060+66Advance to knockout stage
2 Unification flag of Korea.svg Korea 31112203
3Flag of Ireland.svg  Republic of Ireland 30213522
4Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 30122641
Source: [ citation needed ]
(H) Hosts
Portugal  Flag of Portugal (official).svg2–0Flag of Ireland.svg  Republic of Ireland
Pinto Soccerball shade.svg17'
Capucho Soccerball shade.svg78'
Report
Estádio das Antas, Porto
Attendance: 65,000
Referee: Pierluigi Pairetto (Italy)

Argentina  Flag of Argentina.svg0–1 Unification flag of Korea.svg Korea
Report Cho In-chol Soccerball shade.svg88'
Estádio da Luz, Lisbon
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Ernesto Filippi (Uruguay)

Republic of Ireland  Flag of Ireland.svg1–1 Unification flag of Korea.svg Korea
McCarthy Soccerball shade.svg58' Report Choi Chol Soccerball shade.svg89'
Estádio da Luz, Lisbon
Attendance: 5,500
Referee: Robert Sawtell (Canada)

Portugal  Flag of Portugal (official).svg3–0Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina
Gil Soccerball shade.svg56'
Torres Soccerball shade.svg80'
Toni Soccerball shade.svg86'
Report
Estádio da Luz, Lisbon
Attendance: 60,000
Referee: Guy Goethals (Belgium)

Republic of Ireland  Flag of Ireland.svg2–2Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina
O'Connor Soccerball shade.svg9'
Byrne Soccerball shade.svg63'
Report Delgado Soccerball shade.svg55'
Molina Soccerball shade.svg57' (pen.)
Estádio da Luz, Lisbon
Attendance: 38,000
Referee: Raúl Domínguez (United States)

Portugal  Flag of Portugal (official).svg1–0 Unification flag of Korea.svg Korea
Torres Soccerball shade.svg42' Report
Estádio da Luz, Lisbon
Attendance: 38,000
Referee: Enrique Marín Gallo (Chile)

Group B

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsGroup stage result
1Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg  Brazil 321063+35Advance to knockout stage
2Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 312063+34
3Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 31024622
4Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 30123741
Source: [ citation needed ]
Mexico  Flag of Mexico.svg3–0Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
Hernández Soccerball shade.svg20'
Pineda Soccerball shade.svg51'
Álvarez Arcos Soccerball shade.svg64'
Report
Estádio das Antas, Porto
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Kiichiro Tachi (Japan)

Brazil  Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg2–1Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast
Andrei Soccerball shade.svg29'
Luiz Fernando Soccerball shade.svg79'
Report Tiehi Soccerball shade.svg48'
Estádio das Antas, Porto
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: Ryszard Wojcik (Poland)

Brazil  Flag of Brazil.svg2–2Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
Paulo Nunes Soccerball shade.svg18'
Luiz Fernando Soccerball shade.svg45'
Report Pineda Soccerball shade.svg57', 67'

Ivory Coast  Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg1–4Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
Mambo Soccerball shade.svg64' (pen.) Report Rödlund Soccerball shade.svg13'
Bild Soccerball shade.svg23', 46'
Andersson Soccerball shade.svg87'

Ivory Coast  Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg1–1Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
Seri Soccerball shade.svg79' Report Pineda Soccerball shade.svg83'

Brazil  Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg2–0Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
Paulo Nunes Soccerball shade.svg29'
Élber Soccerball shade.svg78'
Report
Estádio das Antas, Porto
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Pierluigi Pairetto (Italy)

Group C

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsGroup stage result
1Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 330040+46Advance to knockout stage
2Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 320151+44
3Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 310262+42
4Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 3003012120
Source: [ citation needed ]
Trinidad and Tobago  Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg0–2Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Report Okon Soccerball shade.svg52'
Seal Soccerball shade.svg76'


Trinidad and Tobago  Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg0–6Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt
Report Hussein Soccerball shade.svg8'
Sadek Soccerball shade.svg24'
Ismail Soccerball shade.svg36'
Sakr Soccerball shade.svg60'
El-Sheshini Soccerball shade.svg79'
Abdel Aziz Soccerball shade.svg82'
Estádio Primeiro de Maio, Braga
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Wei Jihong (China)

Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg1–0Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Maloney Soccerball shade.svg21' Report

Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg1–0Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt
Trajanovski Soccerball shade.svg43' Report

Group D

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsGroup stage result
1Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 321070+75Advance to knockout stage
2Flag of Syria (2025-).svg  Syria 312043+14
3Flag of England.svg  England 30213412
4Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay 30120771
Source: [ citation needed ]
England  Flag of England.svg0–1Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
Report Pier Soccerball shade.svg84'
Estádio de São Luís, Faro
Attendance: 11,500
Referee: Renato Marsiglia (Brazil)

Syria  Flag of Syria (2025-).svg1–0Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay
Ramadan Soccerball shade.svg57' Report
Estádio de São Luís, Faro
Attendance: 5,500
Referee: Alhagi Faye (Gambia)

Spain  Flag of Spain.svg6–0Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay
Pier Soccerball shade.svg10' (pen.), 34'
Urzáiz Soccerball shade.svg22', 75', 80' (pen.)
Mauricio Soccerball shade.svg36'
Report
Estádio de São Luís, Faro
Attendance: 11,500
Referee: Daniel Roduit (Switzerland)

England  Flag of England.svg3–3Flag of Syria (2025-).svg  Syria
Allen Soccerball shade.svg12'
Awford Soccerball shade.svg69', 84'
Report Ramadan Soccerball shade.svg18'
Awad Soccerball shade.svg27'
Helou Soccerball shade.svg65'
Estádio de São Luís, Faro
Attendance: 11,500
Referee: John McConnell (Australia)

Spain  Flag of Spain.svg0–0Flag of Syria (2025-).svg  Syria
Report

England  Flag of England.svg0–0Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay
Report
Estádio de São Luís, Faro
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Sándor Puhl (Hungary)

Knockout stage

Bracket

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
June 22 – Lisbon
 
 
Flag of Portugal (official).svg  Portugal (a.e.t.)2
 
June 26 – Lisbon
 
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 1
 
Flag of Portugal (official).svg  Portugal 1
 
June 23 – Braga
 
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 0
 
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia (p)1 (5)
 
June 30 – Lisbon
 
Flag of Syria (2025-).svg  Syria 1 (4)
 
Flag of Portugal (official).svg  Portugal (p)0 (4)
 
June 22 – Porto
 
Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg  Brazil 0 (2)
 
Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg  Brazil 5
 
June 26 – Guimarães
 
Unification flag of Korea.svg Korea 1
 
Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg  Brazil 3
 
June 23 – Faro
 
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 0 Third place
 
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 1
 
June 29 – Porto
 
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 3
 
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 1 (4)
 
 
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union (p)1 (5)
 

Quarter-finals

Portugal  Flag of Portugal (official).svg2–1 (a.e.t.)Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
Torres Soccerball shade.svg3' (pen.)
Toni Soccerball shade.svg101'
Report Mendoza Soccerball shade.svg35'
Estádio da Luz, Lisbon
Attendance: 90,000
Referee: Ryszard Wojcik (Poland)

Brazil  Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg5–1 Unification flag of Korea.svg Korea
Marquinhos Soccerball shade.svg15'
Élber Soccerball shade.svg41', 67'
Djair Soccerball shade.svg47', 53'
Report Choi Chol Soccerball shade.svg40'
Estádio das Antas, Porto
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Guy Goethals (Belgium)


Spain  Flag of Spain.svg1–3Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Urzáiz Soccerball shade.svg85' Report Scherbakov Soccerball shade.svg35', 64'
Mandreko Soccerball shade.svg80'

Semi-finals

Brazil  Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg3–0Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Marquinhos Soccerball shade.svg15'
Castro Soccerball shade.svg18'
Élber Soccerball shade.svg32'
Report

Portugal  Flag of Portugal (official).svg1–0Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Rui Costa Soccerball shade.svg31' Report
Estádio da Luz, Lisbon
Attendance: 112,000
Referee: Sándor Puhl (Hungary)

Third place play-off

Final

 1991 FIFA World Youth Championship winners 
Flag of Portugal (official).svg
Portugal
Second title

Awards

Golden ShoeGolden BallFair Play Award
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Serhiy Scherbakov Flag of Portugal (official).svg Emílio Peixe Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union

Goalscorers

Serhiy Scherbakov of Soviet Union won the Golden Boot award for scoring five goals. In total, 82 goals were scored by 54 different players, with none of them credited as own goal.

5 goals
4 goals
3 goals
2 goals
1 goal

Final ranking

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsFinal result
1Flag of Portugal (official).svg  Portugal (H)651091+811Champions
2Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg  Brazil 6420144+1010Runners-up
3Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 631296+37Third place
4Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 632163+38Fourth place
5Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 421183+55Eliminated in
Quarter-finals
6Flag of Syria (2025-).svg  Syria 413054+15
7Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 412175+24
8 Unification flag of Korea.svg Korea 41123743
9Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 310262+42Eliminated in
Group stage
10Flag of England.svg  England 30213412
11Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 31024622
12Flag of Ireland.svg  Republic of Ireland 30213522
13Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 30123741
14Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 30122641
15Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay 30120771
16Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 3003012120
Source: rsssf.com
(H) Hosts

References

  1. "After The Eaglets Have Landed". NigeriaVillageSquare.com. 26 February 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  2. "FIFA World Youth Championship Portugal 1991 – Teams". FIFA. Archived from the original on March 30, 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2014.