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Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nNorth Korea secured a record-equalling third victory in the Fifa Under-20 Women’s World Cup on Sunday, beating Japan 1-0 in Bogota.<\/p>\n They became the joint most successful side in the football tournament’s history, equalling powerhouse nations Germany and the United States.<\/p>\n Choe Il-son’s 15th minute winner capped a superb tournament for North Korea, who won every single game in Colombia.<\/p>\n The 17-year-old forward finished as the competition’s overall top scorer, winning the Golden Boot with six goals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n “It\u2019s so hard to express ourselves right now – this has been a dream of so many of us for so long,” said North Korea’s captain, Chae Un-yong.<\/p>\n “The final match was tough, as we expected, and we had to remain calm and play according to the coach\u2019s tactical instructions.”<\/p>\n North Korea stormed their way through the tournament, despatching the likes of Argentina, the Netherlands and Brazil en route to the semis.<\/p>\n A 1-0 victory over the United States set up an all-Asian final against Japan – who finished as runners-up in the previous tournament in 2022.<\/p>\n Choe’s goal – a slightly deflected left foot strike – was enough to secure a historic win for North Korea in the El Camin Stadium <\/p>\n She was named player of the match and won both the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball, the latter being awarded to the World Cup’s best overall player.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n North Korea’s triumph is even more notable given the country withdrew from global sporting competition for several years due to the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n Having not played a match since 2018, the North Korean Women’s U20 returned to the international stage in March this year to compete in the Asian Cup in Uzbekistan.<\/p>\n Despite the six-year-break, they won that tournament, beating Japan 2-1 to secure their second title.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cTo firstly win the Asian Cup and now follow that with this success means that I\u2019m so proud of the team,” said the team coach, Ri Song-ho, following their World Cup triumph.<\/p>\n “We have shown that we are very dangerous in the way that we build up attacks, it\u2019s all about the speed of how we go forward.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Unlike their male counterparts – who are ranked 111th in the world – North Korea’s women are a genuine force in world football.<\/p>\n The senior side is currently ninth in the Fifa world rankings, higher than countries such as France and Australia.<\/p>\n To date, they have won three Asian Cups, three Asian Games and three East Asian Championships.<\/p>\n North Koreans rarely get to see their national sides play at home, though.<\/p>\n The country’s limited transport connections with the outside world – as well as its poor diplomatic relations with many governments – mean that the vast majority of North Korea’s “home” matches are played at a neutral venue, often in China or the Middle East.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/bbcx\/grey-placeholder.png\")
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Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"Getty](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/d8da\/live\/87fc4ee0-7987-11ef-98e5-df228b3221ad.jpg.webp\")
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