DPR Korea, Japan set for 2026 AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup final

TL;DR

DPR Korea and Japan will compete in the 2026 AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup final in Thailand after winning their semifinals. Both teams have also qualified for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.

Key points

DPR Korea and Japan reached the final of the 2026 AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup.
The tournament expanded to include 12 nations.
Both teams qualified for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

Mentioned in this story

Thailand

AFC U-20 Women’s Asian CupDPR KoreaJapanFIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup

DPR Korea, Japan set for 2026 AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup final

The stage is officially set for the 2026 AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup final in Thailand. Following the tournament’s expansion to 12 nations, DPR Korea and Japan emerged victorious from Wednesday’s semifinals and will now play for the continental title.

Both squads have already secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland by reaching the final four. But the Asian Cup trophy remains the immediate goal. The championship will be decided on Saturday, April 18.

DPR Korea’s dominant path to the championship

DPR Korea entered this tournament as defending champions with high expectations. Navigating Group B, they showcased a high-powered offense with wins over Jordan (8-0), Uzbekistan (6-0), and South Korea (5-0). A major factor in their success has been the performance of Pak Okay-I, whose consistent scoring and playmaking have led the team’s attack throughout the month.

After defeating Australia 3-0 in the quarterfinals, DPR Korea faced a rematch with South Korea in Wednesday’s semifinal. They secured another 3-0 victory behind goals from Pak Il-Sim, Kang Ryu-Mi, and Choe Yon-A.

Embed from Getty Images

DPR Korea reached the final without conceding a single goal while scoring 25 of their own. This defensive and offensive record makes them a strong favorite for the title match.