On May 20, 2026, a rare soccer match took place in Suwon, South Korea, where the North Korean team, Naegohyang Women’s FC, triumphed over the local team, Suwon FC, by a score of 2-1. The event was marked by heavy rainfall, yet hundreds of South Korean supporters cheered enthusiastically for the North Korean visitors, underscoring the significance of this sporting encounter amid ongoing political tensions.
The victory secured Naegohyang a place in the final of the Asian Football Confederation Women’s Champions League, where they will face Tokyo Verdy Beleza, who emerged victorious against Melbourne City with a score of 3-1 in the other semifinal match. Naegohyang's goal-scorer, Choi Kum Ok, expressed confidence in her team’s capabilities, stating, “I trusted our team’s strength. If all of us stay united firmly as one, neither the semifinals nor the final would be a problem for us.”
Historically, athletes from both North and South Korea have shared moments of unity, competing on combined teams and marching together during Olympic ceremonies, especially during periods of diplomatic thaw. However, such exchanges have diminished significantly in recent years due to heightened tensions primarily driven by North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.
The Naegohyang team, consisting of 39 players and staff, arrived in South Korea on a flight from China and has since garnered substantial media attention. This is notable as North Korea had last sent athletes to the South for a table tennis event in December 2018, during a brief period of diplomatic warmth that included participation in the Winter Olympics held in South Korea. However, this détente collapsed in 2019 following the breakdown of U.S.-led negotiations regarding North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, which continued to escalate amidst ongoing international sanctions.
Despite the inclement weather, a considerable number of supporters clad in raincoats filled the Suwon Sports Complex. They applauded with balloon sticks and enthusiastically chanted “Naegohyang,” while some displayed banners welcoming the North Korean team. The South Korean government, under President Lee Jae Myung, has been advocating for improved relations with the North and expressed financial support for civic initiatives aimed at fostering goodwill during the match.
North Korea’s Naegohyang Women's FC is recognized as a strong competitor in women’s soccer, being the reigning champion of both the Under-17 and Under-20 World Cups. In prior encounters, Naegohyang had defeated Suwon in a group stage match in Myanmar in November with a score of 3-0; however, the semifinal match turned out to be a more closely contested affair.
The game commenced with Naegohyang applying early pressure on Suwon’s defense through aggressive tactics, yet they struggled to convert their opportunities into goals, including having an offside goal disallowed in the fourth minute. Suwon responded with several counterattacks, narrowly missing a goal from Haruhi Suzuki, whose header bounced off the post in the 21st minute. Another scoring opportunity was squandered by Milena Barreto de Oliveira, whose close-range effort also hit the post.
Suwon opened the scoring early in the second half with a goal from Suzuki in the 49th minute. The lead was short-lived, as Naegohyang equalized just five minutes later, thanks to a header from Choe Kum Ok. The North Korean team then took the lead in the 67th minute when Kim Kyong Yong scored, capitalizing on a high-arching clearance from a Suwon defender. Despite a chance for Suwon to equalize late in the game, a penalty taken by Ji So-Yun went awry, sealing the match for Naegohyang.
Naegohyang is set to return to the Suwon Sports Complex on Saturday for the championship final, continuing their ambitious journey in the tournament.
