Philippines, North Korea qualify for women's World CupNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un meets with the country's Under-20 women's football team, which won the Under-20 soccer World Cup in Colombia in 2024, at the ruling Workers' Party headquarters in Pyongyang, North Korea. (File photo via Korean Central News Agency)MANILA — The ⁠Philippines ⁠and North ​Korea secured their spots at ​next year's ‌Women's World Cup in Brazil after emerging victorious in the Asian Cup playoffs on Thursday. Later on Thursday at the same venue, Hong Song-Ok bagged a hat-trick while ​Kim Kyong-yong also scored as North Korea thrashed three-times ​Asian Cup ‌champions Taiwan 4-0 to set themselves up for a ​first ⁠World Cup appearance since 2011. Uzbekistan and Taiwan can still ⁠qualify for the World Cup despite their losses, with both teams moving into the ⁠inter-confederation play-offs for the quadrennial ​tournament. Japan take on hosts Australia in the women's Asian Cup final at Sydney's Stadium ‌Australia on ⁠Saturday.

Source: Bangkok Post March 19, 2026 14:31 UTC