North Korea marks return to the Women’s Asian Cup following age group tournament success
Poletti 
North Korea coach Ri Song-ho [L] and midfielder Chae Un-yong [R] at the pre-game press conference. Photo: Poletti/Round Ball Australia
After winning three AFC Women’s Asian Cups in the 2000’s, North Korea will return to the international stage for the first time since the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
After losing to Australia in the final of the 2010 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, DPR Korea qualified as one of three teams for the 2011 World Cup, which would mark its last tournament appearance until now due to five players failing drug tests and being handed a suspension by FIFA as a result.
North Korea then failed to qualify for subsequent tournaments once the suspension was lifted, and were inactive in global football during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In that time, North Korea found success at the age group level, winning the 2024 U17 Women’s Asian Cup and Women’s World Cup, and the 2024 U20 Women’s Asian Cup and Women’s World Cup.
It is quite a remarkable feat to win one of those tournament, let alone hold all four titles across the two age groups at the same time.
Coach Ri Song-ho does not necessarily believe that success will translate to the senior level, but did not rule it out.
“I personally think that the [under-]17 and under-20 team in terms of the level is way more different than the senior level,” he said via a translator.
“That’s why even though we’ve had some successes in the age group levels, it doesn’t mean that it can not be reflected in our senior levels.”
With North Korea’s long absence from senior international football, Ri Song-ho said that they will have to analyse their opponents in more detail as the tournament progresses as they do not have a very detailed understanding of what to expect from their opposition at this stage.
North Korea have brought a very youthful squad to Australia for the tournament, with the oldest player being Ri Song-a at 26 years old. She is the only member of the team who plays her club football outside of North Korea, playing for Sanfrecce Hiroshima in Japan’s WE League.
17 members of the 24-player squad play for April 25 Sports Club in North Korea, with five others playing for Naegohyang Women’s Football Club.
The remaining domestic-based player of the squad, Chae Un-yong, plays for WĹŹlmido Sports Club, and she captained the U-20 national team in its 2024 U-20 Women’s World Cup triumph.
When asked about how that success might translate into the senior team, Chae Un-yong said that she noticed some of the player on other teams competing, and it has given her confidence that she is ready to compete at this level.
As the side gets ready to open its first senior women’s tournament campaign in 15 years, it remains to be seen how North Korea will mark its return to the Asian Cup.
As one of the pre-tournament favourites to advance out of the group, the team knows they have some tough challenges ahead, and it starts against Uzbekistan on Tuesday in Sydney.
During the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, The Dubcast, Round Ball Australia’s Women’s Football podcast, will have daily episodes discussing the days games and looking ahead to the next days matches. Listen on Spotify, Apple, or watch on YouTube.