North Korean club Naegohyang shocks Asia by winning the continental title on South Korean soil

By beating Tokyo Verdy Beleza 1-0 on South Korean ground, Naegohyang became the champion of the 2026 AFC Women's Champions League.

Naegohyang made history by defeating Tokyo Verdy Beleza with a score of 1-0 in the final match of the 2026 AFC Women's Champions League held in Suwon. Winning the title on South Korean soil made the North Korean representatives the top women's club in Asia and earned them a spot in next year's FIFA Women's Champions Cup.

The final was a tight and tactically rich contest, as both sides started cautiously. While Tokyo Verdy Beleza enjoyed more possession, Naegohyang proved more effective on the counterattack. The turning point came just before halftime when captain Kim Kyong-yong fired a decisive shot, scoring the only goal of the match.

After the final whistle, Naegohyang players immediately grabbed the North Korean flag and ran around the pitch celebrating in an emotionally charged atmosphere. This was seen as a particularly striking image, given that the match took place in South Korea, where symbols linked to North Korea have traditionally been sensitive under the National Security Law. Nevertheless, many spectators in the stands applauded the impressive performance of the team from Pyongyang.

Speaking after the match, coach Ri Yu-il could not hide his emotion as he thanked leader Kim Jong-un for his support for the team. He stated that stepping onto the world stage as Asian champions was a historic moment for the entire squad, while stressing that even bigger challenges lie ahead.

However, the post-match press conference also saw a noteworthy incident when coach Ri Yu-il and captain Kim Kyong-yong unexpectedly left midway after a South Korean journalist referred to North Korea as "the North." Still, this did not overshadow the remarkable achievement Naegohyang had just accomplished in Asia's most prestigious women's club competition.

With this title, Naegohyang will represent Asia at the FIFA Women's Champions Cup to be held in Miami next year. As North Korean women's football continues to maintain its regional dominance, this victory on South Korean soil further affirms the strength and resilience of the East Asian nation's representative.