See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy SABRINA PENTY, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published: 15:40 BST, 3 June 2026 | Updated: 15:50 BST, 3 June 2026
Members of a North Korean women's football team went wild as their leader, Kim Jong Un, joined them on the pitch to celebrate their win at the AFC Women's Champions League. Footage showed the North Korean leader smiling as he congratulated the players of Naegohyang Women's FC. The team members appeared emotional, with several jumping up and down, cheering and wiping tears from their eyes as he walked down the pitch to greet them. The women's team made history by becoming the first-ever North Korean club to win the AFC Women's Champions League - Asia's premier women's football tournament. Naegohyang won the league in Seoul with a 1-0 victory over Tokyo Verdy Beleza of Japan in the final last month, with forward Kim Kyong-Yong netting the only goal of the match. The team members were also the first North Korean athletes to visit South Korea in eight years. The rare visit to Seoul comes as North Korea has in recent years labelled the South its 'most hostile state' and ruled out reuniting the nation split by the 1950-1953 Korean War. The Asian Women's Champions League, which had its inaugural season in 2024-25, offers prize money of $1 million to champions. Footage shows members of North Korea's Naegohyang Women's FC getting emotional as they meet their leader Kim Jong Un The team members appeared emotional, with several jumping up and down, cheering and wiping tears from their eyes as Kim greeted them The women's team made history by becoming the first-ever North Korean club to win the ASF Women's Champions League Naegohyang are pictured here with Kim Jong Un Naegohyang captain Kim was named the player of the tournament.'I'm very honoured to win the MVP. However, this result does not belong to me alone. It belongs to the team and the coaching staff. 'We just kept pushing ourselves until the end,' Kim said.The victory also means that Naegohyang have qualified for next year's FIFA Women's Champions Cup as well as the inaugural Women's Club World Cup in 2028, with both tournaments featuring teams from around the world.Naegohyang are the first women's club team from North Korea to compete at the continental level.North Korea have long been a dominant force in women's football and won three Women's Asian Cup titles in the 2000s.After winning the final in Seoul, South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung congratulated the North Korean football team on X. 'I extend my sincere congratulations to the players of Naegohyang Women's Football Club,' he said, adding that he paid 'his deep respects to our cheering squad' for its 'mature cheering culture'.'The ball is round, and we will meet again. We will cheer you on vigorously for your next challenge!'
