Maithé López and Samantha Rodríguez, both from Santander, are part of Colombia's 21-player squad for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Poland. The team will travel to Poland from September 5 to 27, after gathering in Bogotá on August 21. Group E includes North Korea, Portugal, and Costa Rica. The top two from each group and the four best third-placed teams will advance to the round of 16.
Maithé López: forward with power and dribbling skills
Maithé López, 19, of Vancouver Rise F.C. (CAN), is a starting forward in Canada. She previously played for Colombia in the SheBelieves Cup and Nations League. She scored 2 goals in the 2024 U-20 World Cup and Sudamericano Sub-20. Her football journey began at 10, showcasing her ability against older rivals. She led processes in Santander under Spencer Uribe and was called up to Colombia's youth teams.
Samantha Rodríguez: versatile defender with Santander roots
Samantha Rodríguez, of Fortuna Hjørring (DEN), recently joined Denmark and played 3 matches. Previously, she was at Atlético Bucaramanga (13 games, 2 goals) and Real Santander since 2024. As a Venezuelan adopted in Bucaramanga, she developed her talent in clubs like Botín de Oro and Santander teams. In the U-20 squad, she plays as a central midfielder, right back, or defender, known for her aggression and vision.
World Cup Preparation and Challenges
Colombia's U-20 team will train in Bogotá from August 21 to September 13. The round of 16 will be on September 16-17, followed by quarterfinals on September 19-20, semifinals on September 23, and the final on September 27. Samantha and Maithé represent Santander in a tournament aiming for the title in Poland.
