North Korea claimed the U-20 Women’s World Cup title on Sept. 23, defeating Japan 1-0 in the final of the 2024 Colombia U-20 Women’s World Cup.
North Korea, having eliminated global powerhouses Brazil and the United States in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively, secured victory with a 15th-minute goal from star forward Choe Il-son. Choe, who scored six goals throughout the tournament, finished as the competition’s top scorer.
This triumph marks North Korea’s third U-20 Women’s World Cup title, following wins in 2006 and 2016, placing them alongside Germany and the U.S. as the nations with the most tournament victories. North Korea showcased remarkable dominance throughout the event, winning all seven of their matches from the group stage to the final, scoring 25 goals while conceding only four.
Meanwhile, Japan, aiming for their second title after six years, had to settle for a second consecutive runner-up finish, following a 3-1 loss to Spain in the 2022 final. This was the second time in the tournament’s history that two Asian teams met in the final, with the first being North Korea’s 2006 clash with China.
