North Korea booked their FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027 ticket with a 4-0 win against Chinese Taipei in their playoff at the Gold Coast Stadium. The Philippines had booked their places earlier after defeating Uzbekistan 2-0 in their playoff earlier.
Hong Song Ok starred with a hat-trick and the victory means Korea will return to the global showpiece for the first time since 2011 while Chinese Taipei’s qualification hopes now depend on advancing past the Inter-Confederation Playoffs later in 2026.
North Korea went on the offensive from the start with Song Ok angling her shot over the bar in the third minute, while Chae Un Yong pulled her effort from inside the box wide moments later.
The East Asian side stayed compact in a low defensive block with Cheng Ssu-yu pulling off a fine save to deny Ri Hak in the 16th minute before Chen Jin-Wen came to the custodian’s rescue a minute later after she spilled the ball.
Cheng was put to the test again two minutes later when she made a point-blank save to foil Kim Kyong Yong’s volleyed attempt in the 18th minute and later efforts from Hwang Yu Yong and Song Ok.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 32nd minute when Kim Kyong Yong supplied the cross for Song Ok to power home a header past a rooted Cheng to give North Korea a deserved advantage heading into the break.
Chinese Taipei’s hopes of mounting a fightback were dashed four minutes into the second half following a well orchestrated move on the left, with Choe Il-Son setting up Song Ok to finish with a thumping header.
North Korea went further ahead in the 52nd minute with Jon Ryong Jong sending a cross for Kim Kyong Yong at the far post to nod home before Song Ok completed her hat-trick in the 68th, finishing Ri Myong Gum’s deflected shot with a powerful finish from inside the box.
The East Asian side could have pulled one back in the 75th minute but Chen Yu-Chin struck the crossbar from distance as North Korea saw out the convincing victory.
