North Korean Women’s Soccer Team Arrives in South Korea for Historic Match

A squad of 39 North Korean women footballers landed in Seoul this Sunday, the first time a team from the isolated nation has visited South Korea in eight years. The group, known as Naegohyang Women’s FC—meaning “My Hometown”—came from Beijing on a commercial flight and was met with reporters and supporters near Incheon International Airport. They wore matching dark jackets and skirts, carrying pink suitcases, while civic groups waved welcome signs. The players were escorted by police to a bus that left the airport under strict security. A local activist, Choi Young-ok, said she was happy to greet the team but cautioned that a single match cannot fix deep political rifts. “A sports game is just that, ” she remarked, hinting that broader issues must be addressed for lasting change.

The team will play Suwon FC Women in the semi‑finals of the Women’s Asian Champions League on Wednesday. Naegohyang Women’s FC, founded in 2012, won North Korea’s top league last season and previously defeated Suwon 3‑0 in a group match. Both teams are staying at the same hotel in Suwon, but will use separate dining areas and travel routes to limit interaction. Over 7, 000 tickets sold out in hours for a venue that holds just under 12, 000 fans. The South Korean unification ministry is funding civic groups that will support both sides at the game, framing it as a chance for “mutual understanding. ” Because North Korean flags are banned in public under national security law, supporters instead wave symbols of the entire peninsula. North Korea’s women footballers are a strong force internationally, ranking 11th in FIFA’s women's rankings—much higher than their men’s team, which sits at 118th.

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