North Korea women's national football team

According to data from the Korean Central News Agency, women's football in the country began to take shape in the year 1985. The first football team was formed in the Society of Provincial Sports of South Pyongan Province (Korean: 평안남도체육선수단), and soon after, other women's football teams started emerging. On May 19, 1986, the first exhibition match of women's football teams was played at the Kim Il Sung Stadium in Pyongyang.[6]

The first international match of the North Korean national team was held on December 21, 1989, against the Chinese national team as part of the 1989 AFC Women's Championship. The match, which took place in Hong Kong, ended with a defeat for the Koreans, with a score of 1–4. Later in the same tournament, the national team played two more matches, losing 1–3 to the Chinese Taipei national team and winning 4–0 against the Thai national team, thus finishing third in their group.[7] In the following year, in 1990, the North Korean national team won their first international medal, securing bronze medals at the Women's Football Tournament of the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing. They only suffered one loss to the Chinese team during the tournament and achieved a 7–0 victory against the South Korean national team.

The 1991 AFC Women's Championship in Japan, in addition to its primary purpose, served as a qualification stage for the 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup, with the top three Asian teams earning a spot in the World Cup. The North Korean national team had a successful start in the tournament, finishing second in their subgroup, which qualified them for the semi-finals. In the semi-final match, the Koreans were defeated by the Chinese team with a score of 0–1. In the match for third place, they faced the Chinese Taipei national team. The regular and extra time of the match ended in a goalless draw, and the winner was determined in a penalty shootout, in which the North Korean national team lost 4–5,[8] finishing fourth in the tournament and failing to qualify for the World Cup. The 1993 AFC Women's Championship brought silver medals to the North Korean team, as they only lost the final match to the Chinese team with a score of 3–0.[9] the North Korean team missed the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup tournament as they were absent from 1994 Asian Games held in Hiroshima, which served as a parallel qualification for the World Cup. The North Korean national team was also absent from the 1995 AFC Women's Championship.

For the first time in their History, the Korean women's team secured a spot in the World Cup. after finishing as runners-up in the 1997 AFC Women's Championship. In the semi-finals, they defeated the Japanese national team with a score of 1–0. In the final match, they faced the Chinese team once more and were defeated 0–2.[10] At the 1998 Asian Games, the North Korean national team reached the final again but lost to its Chinese counterparts with a score of 0–1. In their first World Cup, the North Korean team was placed in a group with the national teams of Nigeria, Denmark, and the tournament hosts, the United States. They lost their first match against Nigeria with a score of 1–2, but the North Korean team bounced back in the second match, as they defeated the Danish team with a score of 3–0. a 0–3 loss to the USA national team in the final group-stage match left the North Korean team in third place in the group, preventing them from reaching the tournament's knockout stage.[11]

During the team's participation at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, on 7 July 2011, FIFA announced that two of its players, Song Jong-Sun and Jong Pok-Sim, had failed doping tests during the tournament and were provisionally suspended prior to their team's match against Colombia.[12] On 16 July, FIFA announced that three additional players from North Korea tested positive following target testing of the whole team.[13] On 25 August 2011, the North Korean team was fined US$ 400,000 which is equal to the prize it received by finishing 13th in the 2011 tournament, and was excluded from participation at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, including its qualification round.[14]

As of 30 September 2023.

Role	Name	Ref.
Head coach	Ri Yu Il	[15]
Team Manager	Kim Myong Chol
Assistant coach	Pak Song Jin
GK coach	Kim Myong Gil
Fitness coach	Ri Jong Sim
Team Doctor	Pak Kyong Hui

• Myong Dong-chan (명동찬) (1989–1999)
• Ri Song-gun (리성근) (1999–2003)
• Sin Ui-gun (신의근) (2012)
• Kim Kwang-min (김광민) (2004–2011, 2013–2019)
• Jo Song-ok (조성옥) (2016)[16]
• Ri Yu Il (리유일) (2023–present)

Name	Period	Tournament
Myong Dong-chan	1989–1999	1989 AFC Women's Championship: Group Stage 1991 AFC Women's Championship: Fourth place 1993 AFC Women's Championship: Second place 1997 AFC Women's Championship: Second place 1998 Asian Games: Silver medal Winners 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup: Group stage
Ri Song-gun	1999–2003	1999 AFC Women's Championship: Third Place 2001 AFC Women's Championship: Champions 2002 Albena Cup: Champions 2002 Asian Games: Gold medal Winners 2003 AFC Women's Championship: Champions 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup: Group stage
Sin Ui-gun	2012	2012 Four Nations Tournament: Champions 2012 Summer Olympics: Group stage
Kim Kwang-min	2004–2011 2013–2019	2004 Australia Cup: Champions 2005 EAFF Women's Football Championship: Second place 2006 AFC Women's Asian Cup: Third Place 2006 Asian Games: Gold medal Winners 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup: Quarter-finalists 2008 EAFF Women's Football Championship: Second place 2008 AFC Women's Asian Cup: Champions 2010 AFC Women's Asian Cup: Second place 2010 Asian Games Silver medal Winners 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup: Group stage 2013 EAFF Women's East Asian Cup: Champions 2014 Four Nations Tournament: Second place 2014 Algarve Cup: Eighth place 2014 Asian Games: Gold medal Winners 2015 EAFF Women's East Asian Cup: Champions 2017 Cyprus Women's Cup: Third Place 2017 Yongchuan International Tournament: Second Place 2017 EAFF E-1 Football Championship: Champions 2018 Cyprus Women's Cup: Third Place 2018 Asian Games: Quarter-finalists 2019 Cyprus Women's Cup: Champions
Ri Yu Il	2023–present	2022 Asian Games: Silver medal Winners

The following 22 players were called up for the 2024 AFC Olympic qualifying second round in Xiamen, China.

• Match dates: 26 and 29 October – 1 November 2023
• Opposition:  China,  South Korea, and  Thailand
• Caps and goals correct as of: 26 October 2023, after the match against  China

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Kim Un-hui	(1999-02-01) 1 February 1999	5	0	Amnokgang Sports Club
18	1GK	Yu Son-gum	(2003-11-08) 8 November 2003	2	0	Sobaeksu Sports Club
21	1GK	Pak Ju-mi	(2003-07-01) 1 July 2003	0	0	Naekohyang Sport Club
2	2DF	Ri Myong-gum (리금향)	(2003-01-01) 1 January 2003	6	1	Naekohyang Sport Club
3	2DF	Ri Kum-hyang (리금향)	(2001-04-22) 22 April 2001	6	1	Naekohyang Sport Club
4	2DF	Pong Song-ae (봉성애)	(2001-11-30) 30 November 2001	2	1	Naekohyang Sport Club
5	2DF	Song Chun-sim		0	0
16	2DF	Son Ok-ju	(2000-03-07) 7 March 2000	3	0	Rimyongsu Sports Club
20	2DF	Ri Hye-gyong	(1999-09-24) 24 September 1999	6	0	Amnokgang Sports Club
6	3MF	Myong Yu-jong (명유정)	(2003-08-29) 29 August 2003	6	2	April 25 Sports Club
8	3MF	Ri Su-jong	(2002-07-05) 5 July 2002	5	0	Naekohyang Sport Club
9	3MF	Ju Hyo-sim (주효심)	(1998-06-21) 21 June 1998	4	1	April 25 Sports Club
12	3MF	Choe Kum-ok	(2002-02-23) 23 February 2002	5	0	Naekohyang Sport Club
13	3MF	Kim Chung-mi	(2003-06-01) 1 June 2003	5	0	April 25 Sports Club
19	3MF	Kim Jong-sim		1	0
22	3MF	Kim Hye-yong (김혜영)	(2003-03-11) 11 March 2003	4	1	Naekohyang Sport Club
7	4FW	Sung Hyang-sim (승향심)	(1999-12-02) 2 December 1999	4	2	Pyongyang Sports Club
10	4FW	Ri Hak (리학)	(2002-06-12) 12 June 2002	5	4	April 25 Sports Club
11	4FW	Han Jin-hong		1	1
15	4FW	Ri Jong-gum		1	0
14	4FW	Hong Song-ok (홍성옥)	(2003-08-21) 21 August 2003	6	2	Amnokgang Sports Club
17	4FW	Kim Kyong-yong (김경영)	(2002-01-02) 2 January 2002	6	12	Naekohyang Sport Club

• The following players have been called up to a North Korea squad in the past 12 months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
DF	Pak Sin-Jong	(1997-07-27) 27 July 1997	1	0	Amnokgang Sports Club	2022 Asian Games
DF	Ri Pom-Hyang	(1998-03-15) 15 March 1998	0	0	April 25 Sports Club	2022 Asian Games
MF	Wi Jong-sim (위정심) (captain)	(1997-10-13) 13 October 1997	5	0	April 25 Sports Club	2022 Asian Games
FW	An Myong-song	(2001-08-16) 16 August 2001	5	4	Amnokgang Sports Club	2022 Asian Games

• AFC Women's Asian Cup

Champions: 2001, 2003, 2008

Runners-up: 1993, 1997, 2010

• Asian Games

Champions: 2002, 2006, 2014

Runners-up: 1998, 2010, 2022

Bronze Medalists: 1990

• EAFF E-1 Football Championship

Champions: 2013, 2015, 2017

Runners-up: 2005, 2008

• Albena Cup

Champions: 2002

• Australia Cup

Champions: 2004[17]

• Cyprus Women's Cup

Champions: 2019

• Four Nations Tournament

Champions: 2012

The team at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup

FIFA Women's World Cup record
Year	Result	GP	W	D*	L	GF	GA	GD
1991	Did not qualify
1995	Did not enter
1999	Group Stage	3	1	0	2	4	6	−2
2003		3	1	0	2	3	4	−1
2007	Quarter-finals	4	1	1	2	5	7	−2
2011	Group Stage	3	0	1	2	0	3	−3
2015	Banned
2019	Did not qualify
2023	Did not enter
2027	TBD
Total	4/9	13	3	2	8	12	20	−8

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

FIFA Women's World Cup history
Year	Round	Date	Opponent	Result	Stadium
1999	Group stage	20 June	Nigeria	L 1–2	Rose Bowl, Pasadena
		24 June	Denmark	W 3–1	Civic Stadium, Portland
		27 June	United States	L 0–3	Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough
2003	Group stage	20 September	Nigeria	W 3–0	Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
		25 September	Sweden	L 0–1
		28 September	United States	L 0–3	Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus
2007	Group stage	11 September	United States	D 2–2	Chengdu Sports Center, Chengdu
		14 September	Nigeria	W 2–0
		18 September	Sweden	L 1–2	Tianjin Olympic Centre Stadium, Tianjin
	Quarter-finals	22 September	Germany	L 0–3	Wuhan Stadium, Wuhan
2011	Group stage	28 June	United States	L 0–2	Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion, Dresden
		2 July	Sweden	L 0–1	Impuls Arena, Augsburg
		6 July	Colombia	D 0–0	Ruhrstadion, Bochum

AFC Women's Asian Cup record
Hosts / Year	Result	GP	W	D*	L	GS	GA	GD
1975	Did not participate
1977
1980
1981
1983
1986
1989	Group stage	3	1	0	2	6	7	−1
1991	Fourth place	6	3	1	2	25	2	+23
1993	Runner-up	5	3	1	1	18	4	+14
1995	Did not participate
1997	Runner-up	5	3	0	2	24	6	+18
1999	Third place	6	4	1	1	28	8	+20
2001	Winners	6	6	0	0	53	1	+52
2003		6	5	1	0	50	3	+47
2006	Third place	6	4	1	1	16	3	+13
2008	Winners	5	5	0	0	14	1	+13
2010	Runner-up	5	3	1	1	7	2	+5
2014	Banned (see above)
2018	Did not qualify
2022	Withdrew
Total	10/19	53	37	6	10	241	37	+204

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.