North Korea’s Naegohyang FC Clinches Asian Women’s Champions League Crown

North Korea’s Naegohyang FC scripted a memorable chapter in Asian women’s football after edging Japan’s Tokyo Verdy Beleza 1-0 to win the Asian Women’s Champions League title in Suwon, South Korea, on Saturday. The victory not only crowned the Pyongyang-based side as continental champions but also reinforced North Korea’s growing dominance in women’s football at both club and international levels.

The tightly contested final was decided moments before halftime when forward Kim Kyong Yong produced a clinical finish inside the box after receiving a perfectly timed pass from Kim Jung , who had sliced through the Japanese defence with a brilliant run. The goal marked Kim’s fourth strike of the tournament and followed her decisive semifinal winner against South Korea’s Suwon FC earlier this week.

Played at the Suwon Sports Complex near Seoul, the match saw Naegohyang FC dominate key moments despite the narrow scoreline. The North Korean side created more attacking opportunities and displayed superior composure throughout the contest, ultimately deserving the title in only the second edition of the 12 team continental tournament. Chinese club Wuhan Jiangda had won the inaugural edition last year.

The triumph adds another glittering achievement to North Korea’s remarkable rise in women’s football. Over the last two years, the country has emerged as a formidable force globally, winning both the FIFA U-20 and U-17 Women’s World Cups in 2024 , while successfully defending the U-17 crown in 2025. North Korea also captured the 2024 Women’s Asian Cup and dominated youth football at the continental level.

Speaking before the final, Naegohyang head coach Ri Yu Il credited the nation’s structured football system for its sustained success. He said players are identified and trained from a very young age through a specialized development program, allowing them to consistently perform at the highest AFC and FIFA competitions.

With another major trophy secured, North Korea’s women’s football machine continues to set new standards across Asia, signaling that its dominance may only be growing stronger.