North Korean women's club wins Asian Champions League title

North Korea’s Naegohyang Women’s Football Club secured their first AFC Women’s Champions League title by defeating Japan’s Tokyo Verdy Beleza 1-0 in the 2025-26 final at Suwon Stadium. The winning goal came in the 44th minute from Kim Kyong-yong, who finished the tournament as the top scorer with four goals and was named the most valuable player. The match saw Naegohyang avenge their 4-0 group-stage loss to Tokyo from last season, turning the tide with a first-half counterattack and holding off Japanese pressure in the second half. Around 2,000 supporters from a joint inter-Korean cheering squad, organized by South Korea’s Unification Ministry, filled the away section, cheering with coordinated wave motions and light sticks throughout the game. After the victory, Naegohyang players celebrated by carrying the North Korean flag around the pitch. The club’s triumph marks a historic achievement, becoming the first North Korean women’s team to win the Asian Champions League. The final was a dramatic turnaround from their previous meeting, showcasing Naegohyang’s resilience and tactical discipline. Kim Kyong-yong’s performance, including her decisive goal, solidified her role as a key figure in the team’s success.