North Korean women's club wins Asian Champions League title

May 23 (Asia Today) -- North Korea's Naegohyang Women's Football Club defeated Japan's Tokyo Verdy Beleza 1-0 to win the 2025-26 AFC Women's Champions League, becoming the first North Korean women's club to claim the Asian title.

Kim Kyong-yong scored the winning goal in the 44th minute at Suwon Stadium, her fourth goal of the tournament and the decisive strike in Naegohyang's first Champions League victory.

About 2,000 members of a joint inter-Korean cheering squad, supported by South Korea's Unification Ministry, filled the away section and cheered for Naegohyang throughout the match with wave cheers and light sticks.

Naegohyang avenged a 4-0 loss to Tokyo in last year's group stage, deciding the final with a first-half counterattack. In the second half, the North Korean side held off Tokyo's attacks and protected the lead.

After the match, Naegohyang players carried the North Korean flag around the field in celebration. Kim was named the tournament's most valuable player.

-- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260523010006822

Copyright 2026 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

This story was originally published May 24, 2026 at 2:07 PM.