North Korea Loses to Japan in Penalty Shootout at FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, Failing to Secure 3rd Consecutive Title

▲ North Korea vs. Japan FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup semi-final result

North Korea's under-17 (U-17) women's national football team has fallen short of winning its third consecutive International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) U-17 Women's World Cup title.

North Korea failed to reach the final after drawing 1–1 with Japan in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup held at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, Morocco, on November 5 (Korea time), and subsequently losing 1–4 in a penalty shootout.

As a result, North Korea—which won back-to-back championships in the 2024 and 2025 tournaments—missed out on achieving three consecutive titles and its fifth championship overall in the tournament.

North Korea holds the record for the most titles at the U-17 World Cup, having reached the summit four times (in 2008, 2016, 2024, and 2025).

Meanwhile, Japan, which secured its first championship in the 2014 tournament, will face Nigeria—having defeated Brazil 3–1 in the other semi-final—in the final on November 8 to challenge for its second title overall.

After finishing the first half scoreless, North Korea seized the lead in the 7th minute of the second half when Ri Ui-gyong fired a right-footed shot from near the front of the penalty area that rattled the back of the Japanese net.

However, while defending Japan's final offensive push during second-half stoppage time, Won Sol-gyong accidentally kicked the ball into her own net, letting a victory slip through their fingers and sending the match into a penalty shootout.

In the end, North Korea suffered a 1–4 defeat as only their first kicker, Ri Bok-rim, successfully scored, while the subsequent kickers all missed their shots, costing them a ticket to the final.

(Photo: Captured from FIFA SNS, Yonhap News)

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