Women's Club Naekohyang Heads to South Korea for AFC Champions League Semifinal
A women's football club from North Korea, Naekohyang, is traveling to South Korea to compete in the semifinals of the AFC Women's Champions League. This marks the first visit by a North Korean sports team to the South in eight years, and the first time in twelve years that a North Korean women's football side has done so. The match is scheduled for May 20, 2026, where Naekohyang will face the South Korean team Suwon.
Notably, Naekohyang already defeated Suwon 3–0 during the group stage. The Korea Football Association has confirmed the club's participation in the tournament. The last time a North Korean team visited South Korea was in December 2018 for the ITTF World Tour table tennis finals. Naekohyang itself last traveled to the South for the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon.
AFC Women's Champions League and Broader Football Context
The AFC Women's Champions League is now in its second edition, following the inaugural tournament in the 2024/25 season. A total of 12 teams are competing, highlighting the growing popularity of women's football across Asia.
In other football news, Ukraine's national team lost to Sweden 1–3 in the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup playoffs. Ponomarenko scored for Ukraine in the 90+1 minute, while Sweden's Gyökeres netted a hat-trick with goals in the 6th, 51st, and 72nd minutes.
The 2026 World Cup group stage is set as follows:
- Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czech Republic.
- Group B: Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland.
- Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland.
- Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey.
- Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador.
- Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia.
- Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand.
- Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay.
- Group I: France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway.
- Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan.
- Group K: Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia.
- Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama.
The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to the Round of 16.
The visit by Naekohyang highlights a gradual revival of sports exchanges between the two Koreas, despite ongoing political tensions. Their participation in the AFC Women's Champions League also reflects the rising profile of women's football in Asia, which could help grow the sport regionally. Additionally, the upcoming match carries extra significance given Naekohyang's earlier win over Suwon and the broader international competition context.
This historic match not only showcases the revival of North Korean sports diplomacy but also aligns with the growing excitement surrounding international football tournaments. For those interested in the broader implications of these competitions, the upcoming Champions League semi-final schedule has just been announced, featuring key matchups that could influence the future of club football in Europe.