sports
North Korean Women's Team Defeats South Korean Side in Rare Cross-Border Match
A North Korean women's football club defeated a South Korean opponent 2-1 in the semifinal of the Asian Football Confederation Women's Champions League on Wednesday. The match marked the first time athletes from the North have competed on South Korean soil in nearly eight years.
May 20, 8:00 AM·1m read2 sources
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A North Korean women's football team defeated South Korea's Suwon FC Women 2-1 in the semifinal of the Asian Football Confederation Women's Champions League on Wednesday at Suwon Stadium. Naegohyang Women's FC rallied from a 1-0 deficit in the second half with goals from Choe Kum-ok and Kim Kyong-yong. Japanese forward Haruhi Suzuki scored the only goal for Suwon FC Women.
The match took place in heavy downpours at Suwon Stadium, 30 kilometers south of Seoul. Suwon FC Women hit the woodwork twice in the first half but could not convert additional chances, including a missed penalty in the 79th minute. m. Saturday at the same venue. Tokyo Verdy Beleza advanced after defeating Melbourne City FC 3-1 in the other semifinal.
The encounter marked the first time athletes from North Korea have crossed the border to compete in South Korea since 2018. More than 7,000 tickets sold out within hours of going on sale. This was the second meeting between the two clubs in the tournament.
Naegohyang had defeated Suwon 3-0 in a November group-stage match held in Myanmar. >"Inter-Korean football match offers chance to set 'good precedent': minister" — Yonhap, May 20, 2026 The North Korean team kept a low profile after the match. Its coach declined to comment on South Korean supporters, stating the team was present for football.
Suwon FC Women captain Ji So-yun had expressed determination to perform well on home soil ahead of the match.
