North Korean women's football team to travel to South Korea for AFC Champions League match

On May 20, 2026, the North Korean football club Naegohyang is scheduled to play against South Korean club Suwon in the AFC Women's Champions League semifinals. This event marks the first visit of a North Korean sports team to South Korea since 2018. The North Korean delegation consists of 39 members, including 27 players and 12 officials. While sources vary slightly on arrival details, the South Korean Unification Ministry confirmed the notification, noting the team is expected to arrive at Incheon Airport on May 17. The loser of the match will return home on May 21, with no third-place game scheduled. The winner will proceed to the final in South Korea on May 23 to face either Melbourne or Tokyo Verdy Beleza. This match is particularly significant as the two nations remain technically at war since the 1953 armistice, and recent athletic encounters have primarily occurred on neutral ground. This visit is viewed as a rare diplomatic and athletic milestone.