The Korea Times
North Korea as world champions? It could happen as soon as next year. Of the teams that head to Brazil in 2027 for the Women’s World Cup, it has to be considered a serious contender. The nation has seen so much success in recent years, and there was more last weekend when Naegohyang FC went to Suwon Sports Complex for the Asian Football Confederation Women’s Champions League and beat Tokyo Verdy Beleza 1-0 to become just the second winners of the continental tournament. That club success follows national team glory. In 2024, the North Korean women won the U-17 and U-20 World Cups. The following year, they won the U-17 World Cup again. At the continental level, the youth squad has been impressive too, with the U-17 team winning the 2024 and 2026 Asian Cup tournaments. "We don't have enough time to explain the evolution of our national football programs," said Naegohyang head coach Ri Yu-il, who has also coached the national team. "We have a specialized player development system. Players are well-trained from a young age and as they grow older, they contribute to good performances at
Go to News Site