North Korea wins U-17 Women's World Cup for third time

North Korea clinched the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup victory after beating Spain 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the final on Sunday, winning the title for the third time to become the most successful team in tournament history.

North Korea celebrate winning the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup after beating Spain in the final at Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium in the Dominican Republic on Sunday. [EPA/YONHAP]

North Korea clinched the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup victory after beating Spain 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the final on Sunday, winning the title for the third time to become the most successful team in tournament history.

Spain went in front at Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium in the Dominican Republic with a goal from Celia Segura Rodriguez in the 61st minute.

But North Korea leveled three minutes later with Jon Il-chong rounding goalkeeper Laia Lopez and slotting the ball home.

With neither side breaking the deadlock afterward, the game went to a penalty shootout.

Jong Pok-yong missed North Korea’s second penalty, but Iris Ashley Santiago and Pau Comendador also missed their shots for Spain, which turned out to be fatal as North Korea led the score thereafter and won the penalties 4-3.

The victory sealed North Korea’s third World Cup title and capped off the country's successful run in this year’s tournament where they have won all games.

The reclusive country not only won all three group stage matches against England, Kenya and Mexico, but also went on to beat Poland, United States and Spain in the knockout stage.

Sunday’s victory also made North Korea the winningest team in tournament history with three titles — in 2008, 2016 and 2024.

Had Spain won the final, they would have become the most successful team as they won the World Cup twice in 2018 and 2022.

This is the second time North Korea has won the World Cup in the women’s football this year. The reclusive country’s U-20 women’s football team also claimed victory at the U-20 World Cup in September.

South Korea, meanwhile, failed to impress in both U-20 and U-17 World Cups this year. The country crashed out of the round of 16 at the U-20 tournament and did not even make it to the knockout stage in the U-17 competition after finishing at the bottom of Group B.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]