Late Own Goal Sends Four-Time Champions North Korea Out of U17 World Cup Final

Four-time champions North Korea have been denied a place in the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup final after losing 4-1 on penalties to Asian rivals Japan in Saturday’s semi-final.

The encounter ended 1-1 after regulation time, with a late own goal proving costly for North Korea, who were chasing their third consecutive appearance in the tournament’s final.

North Korea looked set for victory after Ri Ui-Guong broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute, finishing from a set-piece delivery by Yu Jong-Hyang.

However, Japan forced the game into a penalty shootout after Won Sol-Gyong scored an own goal in the 90+4th minute, denying North Korea a place in the final.

Japan held their nerve in the shootout, converting all four attempts through Ota, Shimizu, Yotsumoto and Tanaka.

Ri Pole-Rim scored North Korea’s opening penalty, but misses from Eh Chong-Gum and Kim Ju-Gyong handed Japan a 4-1 victory.

Despite the defeat, North Korea dominated much of the encounter, recording 20 shots against Japan’s seven and enjoying 54 per cent possession. They also registered 33 attempts inside Japan’s penalty area and hit the woodwork twice but failed to make their dominance count.

North Korea had entered the semi-final following impressive victories over Puerto Rico, Poland, Morocco and the United States, while Japan reached the last four after defeating Zambia, France, Venezuela, Kenya and Ghana.

The two Asian sides have a history of meetings at the U17 level, with North Korea winning their most recent encounters, including a 5-1 victory in the 2025 quarter-finals and another 5-1 win in a pre-tournament meeting in May 2026.

Japan’s victory sends them into Saturday’s final, scheduled for 7pm, while North Korea will now compete for the bronze medal against the loser of the second semi-final between Nigeria and Brazil.

The bronze-medal match is scheduled for 4pm.