North Korea secured their third FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup title with a 1-0 victory over Japan in Bogota, equalling the record held by Germany and the United States.
Choe Il-son’s 15th-minute goal sealed the win, marking a perfect tournament for North Korea, who won every match. Choe, a 17-year-old forward, finished as the tournament’s top scorer with six goals, earning both the Golden Boot and Golden Ball awards for best player.
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The North Korean team, captained by Chae Un-yong, navigated a challenging path to victory, defeating strong teams like Argentina, the Netherlands, Brazil, and the United States before facing Japan in the final.
Their triumph is particularly remarkable given the country’s recent absence from international competition due to the pandemic. Returning to play in 2023, North Korea also won the Asian Cup earlier in the year, defeating Japan 2-1.
Coach Ri Song-ho praised his team’s attacking speed and discipline. Unlike the men’s team, ranked 111th globally, North Korea’s women are a dominant force, currently ranked ninth in the world. However, most of their “home” games are played abroad due to North Korea’s limited international connections and diplomatic challenges.
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