North Korea's Naegohyang Women's Football Club lifted the championship trophy after defeating Japan in the Asian women's football final held in Suwon, South Korea.
Naegohyang defeated Japan's Tokyo Verdy Beleza 1-0 in the 2025-2026 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Champions League (AWCL) final at Suwon Sports Complex on Sunday. The victory marked the first time a North Korean team has won the tournament, including its predecessor, the AFC Women's Club Championship. The winner's prize money totaled $1 million, or approximately 1.5 billion won.
Captain Kim Kyong-yong scored the decisive goal. She calmly found the back of the net during a counterattack at the end of the first half to settle the match. Tokyo Verdy, which had thrashed Naegohyang 4-0 in the group stage, was unable to carry that momentum into the final. The runner-up prize money is $500,000, or approximately 750 million won.
The early stages of the match were tightly contested. Naegohyang relied on strong stamina and pressing to launch quick counterattacks, while Tokyo Verdy responded with possession-based passing play. In the 15th minute, Tokyo Verdy's Yuzuho Shiokoshi created the first threatening chance with a right-footed shot after a flank breakthrough, but it was stopped by Naegohyang's goalkeeper.
The middle of the first half saw a VAR review amid physical play. In the 31st minute, Japan's Maharu Shinjo was booked after raising her foot high near Ri Su-jong's face during a challenge. The video review did not overturn the decision.
The balance was broken just before halftime. Jong Kum-i won a long pass played from the back after a defensive challenge, and Kim Kyong-yong finished the resulting one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper to open the scoring.
The second half was dominated by Tokyo Verdy's offensive pressure. However, Naegohyang held firm with solid defense and rapid counterattacks. In the 69th minute, Ri Myong-gum's header went over the crossbar, and Kim Kyong-yong's long-range shot also failed to produce an additional goal.
Tokyo Verdy ultimately failed to find an equalizer, and Naegohyang's players celebrated their championship on the pitch as the final whistle blew.
A crowd of 2,670 spectators attended the final at Suwon Sports Complex. A cheering section organized by South Korean civic groups was also on hand, waving stick balloons and flags in support of Naegohyang. It was the first time North Korean football players had visited South Korea in 12 years, since the 2014 Incheon Asian Games. Naegohyang is also the first North Korean women's football club team — as opposed to a national team — to visit South Korea.
