In a landmark moment for Asian women’s football, Naegohyang FC of North Korea defeated Japan’s Tokyo Verdy Beleza 1–0 in the final of the Asian Women’s Champions League on Saturday in Suwon, South Korea. Captain Kim Kyong Yong’s clinical finish on the stroke of half-time secured the continental crown and etched the club’s name into history. The victory also earned the team a coveted place in the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup, set to feature club champions from around the globe.
The match carried deep geopolitical resonance, as Naegohyang became the first North Korean sports team to set foot in the South in eight years. While political tensions have long kept the two Koreas at arm’s length, the sold-out semi-final against hosts Suwon FC Women underlined the intense local fascination. South Korean fans, many affiliated with unification ministry-backed civic groups, turned out with traditional drums, sunglasses, and caps under the sunny sky, creating a rare atmosphere of cross-border support. Cheong Wook-sik, director of the peace NGO Peace Network, described the visit as emotionally overwhelming, adding that he hoped football could help ease hostilities, however idealistic that might sound.
On the pitch, the match unfolded as a tense, physical affair. Tokyo Verdy, the 2019 champions, started briskly and controlled the first half, probing for openings with quick combinations. Naegohyang absorbed pressure and defended with discipline, waiting for their moment on the counter. It arrived in the final minute of the half: a swift break down the left saw Jong Kum sprint clear and square the ball across the box for Kim Kyong Yong. The captain made no mistake, slotting past the goalkeeper to send the North Korean bench into raptures.
Tokyo pushed desperately for an equalizer after the break, but Naegohyang’s backline stood firm. The Japanese side enjoyed more possession and territory, yet struggled to create clear chances against a well-drilled defense. The North Koreans, content to protect their lead, occasionally threatened on the break themselves, forcing the Verdy defense to remain alert. At the final whistle, the players collapsed in relief and embraced, while head coach Ri Yu Il sat on the bench, tears of joy streaming down his face.
Naegohyang’s path to the title was anything but straightforward. In the semi-final, they edged Suwon FC Women 2–1 at the same venue, a result that resonated beyond football. That match marked the first North-South club contest on South Korean soil in years, and the 7,087 general admission tickets vanished within hours. For the final, more seats remained empty, perhaps a reflection of the neutral status of the Japanese opponent, but the symbolic weight of Naegohyang’s presence never wavered.
The triumph underscores North Korea’s remarkable strength in women’s football. The national team currently sits 11th in the FIFA rankings, a stark contrast to the men’s 118th place. Naegohyang, founded in 2012 and named My Hometown, have now added a continental crown to that legacy. By qualifying for the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup, they will soon test themselves against the world’s best club sides, offering a rare window into a football culture that remains largely hidden from global view.
Among the crowd, 94-year-old Choi Hyo-kwan, originally from the North, personified the poignant nature of the occasion. He attended simply to support the team, expressing his hope that the players would stay healthy and emerge victorious. His presence, like that of many other spectators, bridged a divide that has lasted for more than seven decades.
For Tokyo Verdy Beleza, the defeat was a bitter pill. Having thrashed Naegohyang 4–0 in the group stage in Myanmar, they entered the final as favorites but found a transformed opponent. The Japanese side, winners of the competition’s forerunner in 2019, lacked the cutting edge needed to break down a stubborn defense. Their quest for a second Asian title fell short, but the competitive nature of the final spoke volumes about the growth of the women’s game in the region.
Naegohyang’s victory will resonate far beyond the trophy. It arrives at a time when sport continues to serve as a rare channel for inter-Korean engagement, however fleeting. While no official North Korean supporters were permitted to travel, the scenes in Suwon offered a glimpse of what shared sporting passions might achieve. The players’ tears, the embraces, and the respectful handshakes after the final whistle suggested that, on the field at least, common ground is possible.
Looking ahead, the club’s participation in the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup will thrust them onto an even bigger stage. The event, set to bring together continental winners, offers a chance to showcase North Korean talent and perhaps forge new connections. For the players, it represents the ultimate reward for years of dedication in a country where international exposure is scarce.
As the women of Naegohyang flew back home with the trophy, their journey stood as a testament to the power of sport to transcend borders, however temporarily. In winning Asian club football’s biggest prize on South Korean soil, they wrote a chapter that will be remembered long after the final whistle.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.
