North Korean women’s football club Naegohyang celebrated their historic triumph in the 2025-2026 AFC Women’s Champions League by meeting the country’s supreme leader, Kim Jong-Un, after their return home from South Korea.
The club won the continental showpiece event for the first time in their history. They are the first from North Korea in history to win the competition after Chinese club Wuhan Jianghan University FC won the inaugural edition (2024-25)
Naegohyang beat Japanese club Tokyo Verdy Beleza 1-0 in the final at the Suwon Sports Complex, with Kim Kyong-yong scoring the winner in the 44th minute. They had earlier defeated South Korean team Suwon FC at the same venue in the semi-final by a 2-1 margin at the same venue. They won the quarter-final against Ho Chi Minh City I Women’s Football Club by a 3-0 margin.
Kim Jong-Un joined in the celebrations and met with players from Naegohyang as well as the women’s U17 team of North Korea, who won the U-17 AFC Asian Cup. In fact, the two teams played a friendly game against each other during the celebrations, which the Supreme Leader watched.
Later Kim Jong-Un entered the field and congratulated the players in clips released by the state media. The footballers were evidently emotional and had teary eyes.
The visit of the Naegohyang was the first of any North Korean athletes to South Korea in eight years. The last visit was when North Korean athletes participated in the Pyeongchang Winter ‌Olympics in 2018. The reports from local media revealed that players maintained a stone face during their time in the neighboring nation amid the hostile relations between the two countries.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung congratulated the North Korean team on social media as he continued to make efforts to bring peace between the two nations.
“I sincerely congratulate the players of Naegohyang Women’s FC on winning the AFC Women’s Champions League. The high-level matches in the Champions League clearly demonstrated the brilliant development and capabilities of Asian women’s football to the world. I hope this tournament, beyond victory and defeat, has become a meaningful opportunity to lead the leap of Asian sports and reaffirm the value of peace and unity through sports. The underwater battle spirit of Suwon FC Women, who played under intense public attention, will also be long remembered. I also commend the players of Tokyo Verdy Belleza and Melbourne City FC, who competed in Korea,” wrote President Lee on X.
“Above all, I deeply respect our cheering squad for illuminating the tournament with their mature cheering culture. The ball is round, and we will meet again. I will cheer loudly for the players’ next challenge!,” President Lee added.