Men’s youth football has been dominated for years by more or less the same nations as senior tournaments. However, in women’s football it is different and we are dealing with a unique case. This year’s U-17 and U-20 World Cups fell to… North Korea.
Everything happened in an extremely short space of time. First, Ri Song-ho’s players triumphed in the under-20 championship, which took place at the turn of August and September in Colombia. Less than two months have passed, and their U-17 teammates also won the world championship. This year, North Korea was unrivaled in women’s youth football and achieved everything it could. And interestingly enough, it wasn’t that big of a surprise at all.
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North of the 38th parallel, football has been one of the pillars of the sports ecosystem for years. And while men’s football does not make Kim Jong Un proud, women, especially at the youth level, delight and set an example for their colleagues. Koreans are currently one of the most important nations in the world. And if it weren’t for the situation in this country, many of these girls would probably soon become famous in Europe – not only because of their great performances at national team tournaments.
Double gold
Both of this year’s triumphs were not accidental. At the U-20 World Cup, North Korea outscored its rivals. In the group stage, she scored as many as 17 goals and gave no chance to the Netherlands, Argentina and Costa Rica. After leaving the group, she lost only two goals, and that was in a 5-2 victory in the round of 16 against Austria. Later, three 1-0 wins against Brazil, the United States and Japan, i.e. important forces in women’s football, led the North Korean national team to the third triumph in the history of their participation in the U-20 World Cup.
However, the appetites of Korean women were not fully satisfied at that time. The players from the U-17 team did not want to be weaker than their older colleagues and they also won gold at the tournament held in the Dominican Republic. And in this case, a similar scenario was repeated – easily winning the group against England, Kenya and Mexico, and triumphantly marching into the knockout phase leading through the competition with Poland, the USA and Spain. Also in this age category, it was the third world championship in the history of North Korea, which only confirmed the country’s position in the international arena.
– Women’s football has been taken seriously in North Korea since the mid-1980s. Girls play football in schools, and scouts travel around the country looking for the best, who go to academy and train in good conditions. This brings results, because Korean women have already won medals in the world championships in youth age categories several times – Michał Banaszak, founder of the Polish Institute of Sports Diplomacy, tells us.
The obstacles are the pandemic and… the musk deer
It is not the case that North Korea only achieves success in younger age categories. The senior national team may not have such impressive achievements, but it has played at the Olympic Games twice and won the Asian Cup three times. The problem is that the last time she took part in this second championship was 14 years ago. The wait is only one year shorter to participate in the World Cup. During the ill-fated tournament in Germany in 2011, some Korean players failed anti-doping tests. The staff explained that the soccer players were struck by lightning during training and that musk deer glands were used to cure them, which could have been the reason for the positive test result. And although FIFA found this explanation probable, it excluded the Koreans from the next championships.
– In turn, during the coronavirus pandemic, Kim Jong Un closed the country and did not allow athletes to go to competitions. In this way, the local teams left the World Cup qualifying rounds. This does not change the fact that soccer players have a chance to be at the forefront. He missed the last tournaments due to COVID and a bizarre doping mishap. Although the lack of players in strong clubs obviously also works to their detriment, perhaps at the next World Cup the national team based on this year’s world champions will again be shown to a wider audience – Banaszak does not rule it out.
The senior women’s team is doing much better than the men’s team anyway. It also lost the qualifiers for the last World Cup due to isolation related to the pandemic. In turn, in the current competition for participation in the 2026 World Championships, its chances of entering the next qualifying phase are only illusory. The Koreans have only appeared at the World Cup twice so far. In 1966, they reached the quarterfinals, where they were leading 3-0 against Portugal, but ultimately lost 3-5. The Koreans also faced the same rival during their second participation in the World Cup. In 2010, however, they did not make it out of the group, which, apart from these two teams, also included Brazil and Côte d’Ivoire.
– In senior football – including women’s football – the competition is very strong today. At the 1966 World Cup, unknown North Korean players reached the quarterfinals and defeated Portugal. Today, something like this seems impossible, because what matters is international play. Even if Morocco caused a sensation and reached the semi-finals in Qatar, it was mainly thanks to players who usually play in good and very good European clubs. In turn, almost all current North Korean representatives play in their own league, which blocks the development of local football – says our interlocutor.
He’s like Yamal
For the same reason, we can also admire Choe Il-son only on special occasions. This striker, born in 2007, is one of the most talented soccer players of her generation around the world. In some respects, for women’s football, he is like Lamine Yamal for men’s football – after all, they are peers. However, the Spanish representative is currently the leader of Barcelona, while Choe Il-son, who won both youth World Cups this year, plays for her home club 25 April and there is little indication that she will move to a more widely known team in the near future.
– For us to hear more about Choe Il-son, she would have to start playing for some European or American club to be seen regularly. For political reasons, moving to the USA is impossible and to Europe unlikely. So we will probably have to wait for her next matches in the national team. Although in the case of footballers, some have played in Europe in recent years. There was the “North Korean Rooney”, i.e. Jong Tae-se, who played in the 2nd Bundesliga, and Han Kwang-song, who was briefly in the Juventus squad – our interlocutor reminds us.
The current Cho Il-Son team reports directly to the Ministry of Defense, which is de facto the North Korean army. Another important team in the local women’s league is Amnokgang Sports Club, a team owned by the Ministry of Security, which includes the police. A similar situation also occurs in men’s competitions. Clubs are either dependent on government agencies or state-owned companies for data. And this, of course, is not entirely conducive to the development of football – at least at the senior level, because in youth football, men were also able to win medals in the Asian Championships in the 21st century.
Avoid at all costs
Isolation is arguably the main obstacle to North Korean football taking the next step forward. For now, however, it is a problem primarily in men’s football. The women’s national team is in ninth place in the current FIFA rankings, sometimes it was even fifth, and for the last two decades it has not dropped below 12th place. Unfortunately, these successes are not fully consumed by the state. The authorities only appreciate them on the domestic arena, and the lack of opportunities to travel is not beneficial for young players. If, on the other hand, a famous foreign athlete comes to North Korea, it is not entirely to share his knowledge there.
– Perhaps the most famous such case was the invitation of Dennis Rodman. The former NBA champion had nothing but praise for Kim when he played basketball at his birthday party. If Kim uses sport politically, it is for internal propaganda purposes. This was the case, for example, with the important coverage of Olympic achievements or the current successes of female soccer players – Banaszak notes.
Perhaps a chance to change this perception of North Korea would be for the country to organize a large sports event. There have been reports in the media about such plans in the past. Kim Jong Un is a huge sports fan, especially basketball, and he also lived outside his homeland when he studied in Switzerland. He could certainly use sports to improve North Korea’s image internationally. However, this would involve a change in the country’s approach to isolation, and in the current political situation there is probably little chance of this happening.
– Basking in the glow of an event organized in the country is probably not an option. There were ideas to hold some competitions of the 2018 Olympic Games there or to hold a football tournament under the patronage of FIFA, but nothing came of it. Kim may want to do something like that, but it would involve letting foreign fans and journalists in. And this, in turn, he wants to avoid at all costs – sums up our interlocutor.
North Korea: The Surprising Champions of Women’s Youth Football
North Korea? Winning the world of women’s football? Are we sure Kim Jong Un didn’t just switch the script on us during his last game of Monopoly? But seriously, if you thought football was a man’s game in the DPRK, grab your shin pads—it’s time to delve into the wild world of North Korean women’s youth football, where they’ve apparently forgotten how to lose!
The Unforeseen Dominance
In a twist that would make even the most fanciful sports journalist raise an eyebrow, North Korea has taken home the gold in both the U-17 and U-20 Women’s World Cups. Less than two months apart, these astonishing victories seem almost surreal—like learning that the world’s best chefs live in a bunker underground. But trust me, folks, they’ve just scored 17 goals against opponents like the Netherlands and Argentina while handing out 1-0 defeats like they were free samples at a supermarket. Not bad for a country that most of us associate with… well, a lot of things that aren’t football.
Football: A National Treasure
Yes, you heard it right! Since the mid-1980s, women’s football has been as serious in North Korea as a state-sponsored karaoke night. Girls aren’t simply playing footy for fun; they’re scouted, signed, and trained within an inch of their lives by a regime that sees sporting success as a ticket to the world stage. Who knew that football fields could be the site of diplomatic soft power, even if they are surrounded by barbed wire and an occasional missile launch?
Gold Medals and Odd Excuses
Let’s raise a toast to the North Korean U-17 and U-20 teams! Here’s a fun fact: Despite these explosive successes, their senior team hasn’t had quite the same luck. Why? Well, maybe it’s because every time they try to leave the country to compete, they get stopped at customs with a bag full of… “musk deer glands.” Yes, you heard that right. Apparently, during a past tournament, the coaches claimed players were struck by lightning and suggested those deer glands were healing aids. Not quite the usual excuse, is it? If it weren’t so tragic, it’d be laughable!
The Perils of Isolation
Picture this: you’re a star athlete in the making, but your team drifts in and out of international competitions like a ship lost at sea. That’s the fate of the North Korean women’s team lately, caught up in pandemic-related isolation. They might be racking up medals, but that international exposure? Hardly happening. That’s about as useful as a chocolate teapot for developing your talent! And while we’re at it, how does this lead to a situation where young superstars like Choe Il-son, whose name we’ll likely shout in years to come, remains trapped—and not in a “she’s so good the rest of the world can’t handle her” kind of way, but more like “no exit visas for you!”
The Political Playground
If there’s one thing that seems clear about North Korean sports, it’s that they play by their own rules. As Banaszak pointedly notes, all teams are tied to government affiliations. Their star players, like prized chess pieces, are moved around for propaganda purposes rather than pure sporting development. Can you imagine the anger of a coach explaining to the team that they’ve been drafted into the Ministry of Defense while their hopes of playing in Europe are dashed by politics? Let’s just say, “Team-building” takes on a whole new meaning!
Final Thoughts: A Love-Hate Relationship
So will North Korea’s amazing run in women’s football change the perception of a nation shrouded in mystery and intrigue? Only time will tell! But let’s give credit where credit is due—these young women aren’t just athletes; they are emblematic of a complex narrative. If only they could break free from the constraints of isolation and show the world their prowess!
Until then, let’s sit back and enjoy this unexpected plot twist in the world of football. Cheers to kickstarting a conversation that’s bound to leave us questioning everything we thought we knew! Because, after all, the beauty of sports lies not just in the games, but in the stories they tell, don’t you think?
In stark contrast to the men’s youth football scene, which has long been dominated by a select few nations, women’s football showcases a remarkable diversity of talent and unexpected successes. This year, North Korea emerged as a powerhouse, clinching victories in both the U-17 and U-20 World Cups.
Within a remarkably brief timeframe, North Korea’s women’s teams asserted their dominance. Initially, Ri Song-ho’s under-20 squad triumphed in a championship that unfolded in Colombia during late August and early September. Barely two months later, their U-17 counterparts replicated this success by securing the world championship title as well. The year 2023 will forever be etched in the annals of women’s youth football, as North Korea showcased its unrivaled prowess on the global stage. Interestingly, this success didn’t catch observers entirely off guard.
Football has thrived north of the 38th parallel for decades, serving as a fundamental component of the nation’s athletic framework. While Kim Jong Un’s regime may not celebrate men’s football, the accomplishments of women’s teams, particularly at youth levels, have become a source of national pride and a shining example for aspiring athletes. Given the current global landscape, North Korean footballers are recognized as a significant force in women’s sports. Under different circumstances, these talented athletes might have already achieved fame in Europe’s premier leagues, had it not been for the challenges imposed by the political climate.
Double Gold Triumphs
North Korea’s dual victories this year were no mere flukes. In the U-20 World Cup, the North Korean team displayed sheer dominance, amassing an astonishing 17 goals during the group stage. They completely overwhelmed their opponents, trouncing Netherlands, Argentina, and Costa Rica with ease. As they progressed to the knockout rounds, North Korea conceded only two goals in total, one being in a 5-2 victory over Austria. The team then executed an impressive series of tight 1-0 victories against formidable opponents, including Brazil, the United States, and Japan, securing their third ever U-20 World Cup title.
This success fueled the aspirations of the U-17 squad, who were determined to match the achievements of their older counterparts and subsequently clinched gold in the tournament held in the Dominican Republic. The younger players held their own in the group stage, decisively defeating teams like England, Kenya, and Mexico before advancing smoothly through knockout matches against talent-rich countries such as Poland, the USA, and Spain. This marked another historic achievement for North Korea, securing its third championship title in this age category and solidifying its reputation in the arena of international women’s youth football.
–North Korea has been serious about women’s football since the mid-1980s. Girls participate in football at school levels, while scouts actively search across the nation for exceptional talents who are then nurtured in academies with access to quality training facilities. This systematic approach has proven fruitful, as North Korean women have consistently garnered medals in various youth world championships over the years, confirming the effectiveness of this developmental model – stated Michał Banaszak, founder of the Polish Institute of Sports Diplomacy.
The Challenges: Pandemic and Beyond
While North Korea has excelled at the youth level, the senior national team has not experienced similar success on the world stage. Although the senior team has participated in the Olympic Games twice and has secured three Asian Cup championships, it has been 14 years since their last appearance in the Asian Cup and nearly as long since they participated in the World Cup. Their last World Cup outing in 2011 was marred by controversy, as several players failed doping tests under dubious circumstances, claiming they were treated with musk deer glands after a lightning strike during practice. FIFA ultimately deemed this explanation somewhat plausible but still sanctioned North Korea, leading to their exclusion from subsequent championships.
– The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted North Korean athletics, with Kim Jong Un enforcing strict isolation measures that barred athletes from international competitions, thereby resulting in missed opportunities for World Cup qualifications. Despite these setbacks, there remains potential for a resurgence; if circumstances allow, players from this year’s youth championship-winning team could re-emerge on an international scale in future tournaments – noted Banaszak.
The women’s senior team may not have garnered the same level of attention as their male counterparts, but they remain competitive in the international arena. They too were hindered by the pandemic, effectively losing qualifying opportunities for the recent World Cup. Looking towards the upcoming 2026 World Championships, their chances of progressing appear slim, as the national squad has only qualified for the World Cup on two occasions. Once in 1966, they infamously reached the quarterfinals after leading 3-0 against Portugal, eventually succumbing to defeat with the final score of 5-3. Their second foray in 2010 was less successful, as they failed to advance from a group that also included Brazil and Côte d’Ivoire.
–The competitive landscape in senior football, encompassing both women’s and men’s leagues, has evolved dramatically. At the 1966 World Cup, virtually unknown North Korean players stunned the world by reaching the quarterfinals and beating Portugal. In contrast, replicating such an achievement today seems implausible due to the sheer level of international competition. Success is now closely aligned with players’ experiences in high-quality leagues, something that has eluded North Korean athletes who largely remain confined to their national league, significantly stunting local football development – Banaszak sums up.
A Diamond in the Rough
Amidst the backdrop of limited exposure, the world has yet to fully appreciate the talents of Choe Il-son, a prodigious striker born in 2007 and considered one of the brightest stars of her generation in women’s football. In many ways, she is to women’s football what Lamine Yamal is to the men’s game. Despite their shared age, their career trajectories diverge significantly; while the Spanish prodigy shines as a key player for Barcelona, Choe Il-son continues to represent her home club, 25 April, with scant prospects of moving to a more prominent European club in the near future.
–To see Choe Il-son’s talent recognized on a global scale, she would need to play for a renowned club in Europe or the United States, but given political constraints, such a transition appears nearly impossible. Although some North Korean players have previously found success in Europe, such as the ‘North Korean Rooney’ Jong Tae-se and Han Kwang-song, who had a brief stint with Juventus, the pathways for athletes from North Korea remain fraught – Banaszak explains.
The current squad led by Cho Il-son is under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Defense, effectively operating within the North Korean army framework. Parallel to this, the Amnokgang Sports Club, connected to the Ministry of Security, which oversees police matters, also stands as a significant team in the country’s women’s league. The same structure prevails in men’s football, where clubs are frequently affiliated with government agencies or state-owned corporations, ultimately hindering the growth of football, particularly at the senior level, although youth football has seen North Korean men secure medals in the Asian Championships in recent years.
The Road Ahead: Navigating Isolation
Isolation remains a critical hurdle for North Korean football as it strives to ascend to new heights. For the women’s national team, current standings place them ninth on the FIFA rankings, a significant accomplishment considering they have consistently maintained a position within the top ranks over the past two decades. However, these achievements are underappreciated domestically, with the government primarily valuing them for their nationalistic appeal. The absence of international exposure limits the growth potential for budding athletes; famous foreign figures visiting North Korea invariably engage in acts designed for political spectacle rather than genuine knowledge-sharing.
– One notorious instance was the visit from Dennis Rodman, who garnered much media attention for his praise of Kim during a basketball event. Furthermore, while Kim may utilize sports for nationalistic agendas, the focus is predominantly on showcasing Olympic accomplishments or localized successes in women’s football – Banaszak reflects.
In an ideal scenario, hosting a grand sporting event could shift perceptions of North Korea on the international stage. Reports of such ambitions have circulated in media outlets previously; Kim Jong Un, an ardent sports fanatic, particularly of basketball, himself studied in Switzerland and might leverage sports to enhance the nation’s image. Nonetheless, this would necessitate a substantial shift away from the existing isolationist policies, a transformation that, within the current political landscape, appears improbable.
–Organizing a major event in North Korea remains a convoluted proposition. Ideas have floated regarding hosting competitions linked to the 2018 Olympics or FIFA-endorsed football tournaments, yet none materialized. Although Kim Jong Un may harbor ambitions for such initiatives, they would ultimately require opening the doors to foreign fans and journalists, a risk Kim seems keen to circumvent – concludes our expert insight.
What challenges do North Korean women football players face in gaining international exposure due to the country’s isolationist policies?
Sition in the top tiers of women’s football despite limited international exposure. However, the isolationist policies of Kim Jong Un’s regime severely restrict opportunities for these players to engage with the broader football community globally.
To truly unleash their potential, North Korean women’s football must navigate a complicated web of local and international challenges. They remain largely unseen on major international stages, as travel bans and sanctions on the country have kept them from competing at vital competitions that could provide invaluable experience. The pandemic exacerbated this isolation, with strict measures preventing athletes from participating in international tournaments.
Nevertheless, the recent victories of the U-17 and U-20 teams are not merely limited to national pride; they indicate a burgeoning talent pool that, if given access to diverse experiences and training, could shine brighter on the world stage. The current crop of players, headlined by under-20 standout Choe Il-son, serves as an indication of the craftsmanship and dedication that has been fostered despite the constraints imposed by the regime.
In terms of the roadmap ahead, genuine engagement with international football bodies, friendly matches, and participation in global tournaments would be essential for the advancement of North Korean women’s football. Potential collaborations with foreign clubs for training camps or mentorship programs could also enhance their skills while providing exposure to different playing styles.
Ultimately, the question remains whether these athletes will receive the support and opportunities they need to transcend the political limitations of their homeland. As we witness their tenacity and resilience, we can only hope that the winds of change will allow for a less isolated future, enabling talents like Choe Il-son and her teammates to showcase their abilities on the grandest stages of women’s football. The world deserves to see what North Korean athletes can truly achieve when barriers begin to dissolve, fostering a spirit of competition and unity that transcends borders.