Seoul, May 4, 2026 North Korean Women's Team Travels to South Korea For the first time in eight years, a North Korean sports team will travel to South Korea to compete in the Asian Women’s Champions League semifinal against Suwon FC on May 20.
Historic Encounter in Women's Football
The North Korean women's football team, Naegohyang FC, will play against Suwon FC in South Korea on May 20. This marks the first official meeting between the two teams in years. According to South Korean media reports, the North Korean delegation consists of 27 players and 12 staff members.
The visit signifies a rare sporting encounter between the two hostile neighbors. North Korean athletes last participated in the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon. Since then, sports exchanges have been severely limited due to heightened political tensions.
Background of the Sporting Rapprochement
Naegohyang FC’s participation marks the first visit by a North Korean team to South Korea since 2018. At that time, North Korean athletes competed in shooting, table tennis, and youth football events. The current matches could be interpreted as a sign of cautious sporting rapprochement, even as political tensions persist.