North Korea’s first sports team to visit the South in eight years reached the final of the Asian Women’s Champions League on Wednesday when Naegohyang Women’s FC defeated Suwon FC Women 2-1.
Naegohyang came from behind to beat his southern rival amid heavy rain in Suwon in a hard-fought semi-final played in a fair atmosphere with no major flashpoints.
Suwon captain Ji So-yun missed a penalty with just over 10 minutes to play.
The North Koreans remain in the South on Saturday, where they will face Japan’s Tokyo Verdy Beleza in the same stadium.
Interest in the rare North-South semi-final was high and 7,087 general admission tickets sold out within hours of going on sale last week.
A woman in her 70s who gave her last name, as Lee said AFP before kick-off, she said she lived nearby and was attending the match “hoping to catch a glimpse of the North Korean players.”
“I applaud both teams, although I’m a little more partial to the North because they’ve come such a long way to get here,” she said.
Due to the bad weather, half of the seats in the roofless Suwon Sports Complex Stadium were empty.
A large group of spectators from civil society groups, backed by Seoul’s unification ministry, were in the stadium to support both teams, though they were mostly silent.
Suwon fans beat the drums and sang for their team.
“Regardless of whether the opponent is from North Korea or another country, we really hope we win, reach the finals and show how strong our women’s football team is,” said 29-year-old Suwon fan Kweon Yun-young.
Interest in the rare North-South semi-final was high and 7,087 general admission tickets sold out within hours of going on sale last week. | Photo credit: AFP
Interest in the rare North-South semi-final was high and 7,087 general admission tickets sold out within hours of going on sale last week. | Photo credit: AFP
There were no official away fans because North Koreans are generally not allowed in the South, and the two countries have technically remained at war since 1950.
The two teams had met earlier in the competition in the group stage, with Naegohyang winning 3–0.
Former Chelsea midfielder Ji said Suwon expected the semi-final to be a tough physical battle and was ready to give his best.
The action was fast and fair with both teams creating early chances.
Naegohyang had a goal disallowed for offside in the fifth minute, and Suwon’s Japanese striker Haruhi Suzuki headed against the post midway through the first half.
Suzuki gave Suwon the lead in the 49th minute when she found a chance as the Naegohyang defense hesitated.
The North Koreans equalized six minutes later when Choe Kum Ok headed in from a free kick.
Prolific striker Kim Kyong Yong then put Naegohyang ahead when she capped a sloppy attack with a header in the 67th minute.
Suwon was awarded a penalty following a VAR review, but Ji hit her penalty wide as the goalkeeper dived the wrong way.
Tokyo defeated Australia’s Melbourne City 3-1 in the other semi-final earlier in the day.
Published on May 20, 2026
