U-17 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP: North Korea land title No4 by beating Netherlands
RABAT; Asian Football Confederation president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has hailed the remarkable achievement of North Korea after a 3-0 victory over Netherlands 3-0 secured a record-extending fourth FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup at the Olympic Stadium of Rabat.
Pak Song Jin’s team became the first Asian side to successfully defend their crown on the global stage after a similar title-winning run in the Dominican Republic last year.
With a total of 25 goals scored—a single-edition record —and just three conceded, the East Asian side’s performance at the ninth edition of the tournament will take its place as one of the most dominant in history. Astonishingly, all four triumphs were achieved in unbeaten fashion.
Shaikh Salman said: “Prior to this tournament, DPR Korea were already the most decorated side in history. Now, with this renewed dominance, they have set the benchmark for future women’s youth teams to emulate. This latest victory is perhaps the most profound in Asian football history, so on behalf of the AFC, I would like to put on record our heartfelt congratulations to all the players, the team officials as well as the exemplary support system staff members.”
Reserving special praise for the DPR Korea Football Association, who were rewarded with the AFC President’s Recognition Award for Outstanding Achievement at the AFC Awards Riyadh 2025 presented by NEOM just last month, Shaikh Salman added: “Capturing four world titles at this level can only be attained through the establishment of long-lasting systems of excellence, and nowhere in Asian women’s youth football is this more pronounced than with the DPR Korea FA.
“For creating a culture of unmatched consistency, instilling a winning mindset, and embodying our ambitions through the AFC’s Vision and Mission, the DPR Korea FA deserves our wholehearted and collective praise. We hope that their model example will inspire more AFC Member Associations to chart their own pathways to success.”
With eight goals to her name, Yu Jong Hyang matched the best tally by a player at a single edition to clinch both the Golden Boot and Golden Ball awards ahead of her team-mate Kim Won Sim, who claimed the Silver Ball accolade.
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