South Korea was eliminated from the 2025 U17 Women s World Cup with zero goals, North Korea advanced with great success, and the Korean media was dejected

In the quarter-finals of the 2025 FIFA U17 Women's World Cup being held in Morocco, the match between the North Korean U17 women's football team and the Japanese U17 women's football team will be held on November 1, local time. South Korean media "STAR NEWS" published an article on October 29, comparing the current situation of the North Korean team, which showed overwhelming strength in the U17 World Cup, and the U17 South Korean women's football team, which has been determined to be eliminated in the group stage.

North Korea defeated Morocco 6-1 in the round of 16

In this U17 Women's Football World Cup, the North Korean team secured the right to qualify with an overwhelming record of winning all three games in the group stage (scoring 9 goals and conceding 1 goal in total in the three games). In the top 16, they defeated the host U17 Moroccan women's football team 6-1 and successfully advanced to the quarterfinals. They will face the Japanese team, which defeated the Colombian U17 women's football team 4-0 in the quarter-finals.

On the other hand, the South Korean team lost 0-5 to the Spanish U17 team after a 1-1 draw with the Cote d'Ivoire U17 women's football team in the first match. In the last key match against Colombia, they also lost 0-1. In the end, with a record of 1 draw and 2 losses, they were determined to be eliminated in the group stage. It is worth mentioning that South Korea is the only Asian team in this U17 Women's Football World Cup that failed in the group stage. The other three teams, Japan, North Korea, and China, all reached the top 16.

"STAR NEWS" first pointed out: "After the South Korean team was eliminated in a humiliating manner with zero goals, the North Korean team swept the host 6-1 and locked up a spot in the quarterfinals of the U17 World Cup." Then wrote: "This is in sharp contrast to the South Korean team, which was eliminated in the group stage. The North Korean team defeated Morocco 6-1 and successfully advanced to the quarterfinals. They will play against the Japanese team to enter the semifinals."

In addition, "STAR NEWS" NEWS" also compared North Korea with the current situation of its own country: "Since achieving an unprecedented championship in 2010, the South Korean team has gradually lost its presence on the world stage. After 2018 and 2024, this tournament once again exited with only one goal. However, the North Korean team successfully won the championship in the last tournament, while the South Korean team The failure to achieve the goal of entering the knockout rounds again in 15 years once again made people feel the strength gap between the two teams. "

In addition, looking forward to the quarter-final showdown between Japan and North Korea, Japanese media stated that the North Korean team, whether it is the adult national team or youth teams at all levels, generally strives to win from the first half. How to deal with their offensive in the first 15 minutes will be the primary focus. Facing this opponent who has a level of completion beyond the U-17 age group in terms of fighting, speed, shooting skills, and running ability, can the Japanese team not be afraid of risks, play their own rhythm and seize the initiative?