North Korea have won the latest edition of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup tournament after beating Spain in the penalties at the Estadio Felix Sanchez, Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.
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.
La Roja Girls of Spain lost two out of their three kicks, while their counterparts from North Korea missed only one kick out of the five played, hence the penalty kicks ended 3-4 in favour of the North Koreans.
The Penalty shootout took place after 1-1 at full time of the game.
The two teams have the highest titles in this category.
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.
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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.
Spain lost the opportunity to win the trophy three times in a row having won back to back, that is twice in 2018 and at the last edition of India 2022.
Spain got the Silver in 2014 and bagged Bronze twice in 2010 and 2016, meaning Spain has a higher record.
It was announced that the next tournament will take place in Morocco, next year with 24 teams expected to participate instead of the current 16.
Credible News.ng
