It started with a breathtaking, tactically unorthodox triumph at the FIFA U-20 Women\u2019s World Cup\u2122 in Colombia. The younger generation then backed it up with a successful campaign in the Dominican Republic at the FIFA U-17 Women\u2019s World Cup\u2122.<\/p>\n
A pair of global titles within the span of barely two months clearly positions this outstanding crop of teenage Korean talent as one of the most exciting to have graced the youth level of the women\u2019s game in a long, long time.<\/p>\n
The world now waits to see whether they can translate that dominance on the junior stage to the senior one.<\/p>\n
On that front, it\u2019s not inconceivable that, sooner rather than later, the senior squad could be built around a core of this irrepressible young generation. Last year, the full national team played only two competitive matches: a pair of qualifiers for the Paris Olympics that they lost 2-1 on aggregate to Japan. A couple of friendlies against Russia, which they won handily, followed in mid-year before the program effectively went into hiatus until 2025.<\/p>\n
The nation has qualified for the regional EAFF E-1 tournament, to be held in Korea Republic in July, although their participation remains unclear, meaning that the primary target for next year is likely securing qualification for the AFC Women\u2019s Asian Cup, to be hosted in Australia in March 2026.<\/p>\n
Following that is the FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup\u2122, in Brazil in 2027, and by that time many of the starlets that shone so brightly in Colombia could well be heading back to South America as one of the title favourites. They are likely to be joined by a handful of the younger cohort that starred in the Dominican Republic as well<\/p>\n
Producing elite talent has never been the issue for Korea DPR, neither has securing success at youth level been a problem. The nation has more U-17 Women\u2019s World Cup titles (three) than any other and they are, along with Germany and USA, the most successful nation at U-20 level, with their Colombia 2024 triumph making it three titles at that level.<\/p>\n
What has been the problem is having those youngsters replicate that success on the senior stage. Given their dominance at youth level, it\u2019s remarkable that Korea DPR has only featured at the Women\u2019s World Cup on four occasions, the most recent of those coming back in 2011. Even more extraordinary is the fact that they\u2019ve only reached the quarter-finals on a single occasion – at China 2007, where they fell to Germany 3-0.<\/p>\n
Amazingly, this youth juggernaut won as many matches in the group stage at Colombia 2024 as they have in the entire history of the Women\u2019s World Cup.<\/p>\n
So will things be different with this current crop? On talent alone, the answer should be yes. Technically outstanding, tactically adroit and physically dominant, there is little this current generation doesn\u2019t have.<\/p>\n
As impressive as the U-17s were, in downing the likes of England, USA and Spain en route to the title, the U-20\u2019s were even more dominant.<\/p>\n
What started with eyes being rubbed as a collection of unknown and unheralded teenage talents ripped apart Argentina 6-2 in their opener quickly moved on to eyes being wide open. Costa Rica were hammered 9-0 and then the Netherlands dispatched 2-0 as the Koreans ploughed their way through the group stage with 17 goals in the plus column and only two conceded.<\/p>\n
In the knockouts they destroyed Austria 5-2, before reeling off a trio of 1-0 wins over Brazil, USA and Japan to claim the title. They did it with flair, control and a dash of eccentricity as coach Ri Song-ho repeatedly made first-half, tactical, substitutions.<\/p>\n
The maverick mentor told FIFA during that tournament that he, and the nation, demands excellence from the players in every aspect of their game.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want the players to be perfect. Perfect tactically, physically, mentally and with their technique.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s that drive which Ri believes can pilot the nation to senior success, with the team\u2019s exceptional performances also drawing rare praise from the FIFA Technical Study Group at Colombia 2024, with Caroline Pineda arguing that the team had \u201cmastered almost all techniques.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey can pass the ball with devastating accuracy, can go 1v1 and beat opposition players and they can strike at goal with different parts of their feet from varied distances and ranges. They are quite unique in that all players seem to be able to play at the same level. Every player seems to be involved in every attacking sequence.\u201d<\/p>\n
So dominant were those teenage intensity instigators that you could arguably uproot the entire U-20 side, place them at the senior controls and still be confident that they\u2019d give Asian Cup and World Cup qualification a real shake.<\/p>\n
More likely though is that the leading lights from the younger categories will be blended with established national team talents such as Ri Kum-hyang, captain Wi Jong-sim and Ju Hyo-sim to make a formidable side. If that goes as well as the Korea DPR hierarchy believes it will, senior success is surely on the horizon.<\/p>\n
Starlets set to shine on the senior stage
\nChoe Il-son (U-17 & U-20)
\nIn a rare feat, the deadly forward went from winning the U-20 Women\u2019s World Cup to following that with the U-17 title barely a month later. Fitness issues hampered the striker at the younger tournament but in Colombia she was close to unstoppable, taking home both the adidas Golden Ball and adidas Golden Boot awards.<\/p>\n
Jon Il-chong (U-17)
\nThe adidas Golden Ball winner at Dominican Republic 2024, the left winger was a constant source of both chances created and chances converted. Blessed with creativity and fine crossing qualities, the Amnokgang teenager very much appears a star in the making.<\/p>\n
Jon Ryong-jong (U-20)
\nSharing both the same surname and the same position with U-17 starlet Jon Il-chong, 20-year-old Jon Ryong-jong was one of the standouts in Colombia. Possessing pace, trickery, a willingness to run at defenders and a consistently accurate cross, the winger is one of the most electric wide players in world football at youth level.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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