North Korea women’s U17 national team. [For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. Redistribution Prohibited] / Courtesy of News1

Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa met Kim Il-guk, head of North Korea’s football association, and praised the country’s women’s football program.

The AFC said on April 29 that Salman met Kim on the sidelines of a FIFA Council meeting held in Vancouver, Canada, where he reaffirmed the AFC’s continued efforts to support the development of North Korean football.

During the meeting, Salman highly commended North Korea’s outstanding performances on both the Asian and global stages.

North Korea achieved an unprecedented double by winning both the 2024 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup and the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, and went on to win the 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, setting a record with four titles in the tournament.

Salman said, “The DPRK Football Association has been a beacon of excellence across the Asian continent. In particular, the recent success of women’s football has further solidified its position as a global model,” adding that the AFC will continue to support the ambitions of North Korea’s football association.

Meanwhile, North Korean club Naegohyang Women’s Football Club has advanced to the semifinals of the 2025-26 AFC Women’s Champions League (AWCL) scheduled for May, where it will face Suwon FC Women in South Korea in an inter-Korean matchup.

Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa met Kim Il-guk, …

AFC President Praises North Korean Women’s Football as “a Beacon of Excellence in Asia”