Head coach Song Sung Gwon praised his players for remaining focused despite trailing.

“We’re proud to beat the best European team to become the best team in the world. We were able to win because of our unity. We learned once again that if we fight together as one, winning is inevitable,” said Song.

DPR Korea goalkeeper Pak Ju Gyong was barely tested in the matches leading to the final, but she proved decisive in the decider with a slew of top saves and a crucial stop in the shootout.

Pak was called upon from the beginning, denying Celia Segura less than two minutes into the contest. After the frenzied first minutes, the two teams settled into things, which yielded a cagey first half, with Alba Cerrato and Pau Comendador having looks at goal for Spain, who were seeking a third consecutive title.

On the DPR Korea side of things, head coach Song Sung Gwon reverted to making an early substitution, replacing FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Colombia 2024 Golden Ball winner Choe Il Son shortly before half-time with Ho Kyong, who then nearly scored off a goalkeeper error.

A tepid first half gave way to a scintillating second stanza and Spain would break the deadlock when Comendador created space for herself on the left and whipped in a cross that went past a sea of legs and rolled to Segura, who fired home.

DPR Korea answered back right away on a ball over the top to eventual Golden Ball winner Jon Il-chong, who took a touch to round Spain goalkeeper Laia Lopez and scored from a narrow angle to pull her side level.

Things stood on a knife’s edge going into the final quarter-hour, as Pak was pressed into another save to deny Cerrato, while DPR Korea mounted pressure at the other end. A winning goal was not to be found, so matters had to be settled from the spot where DPR Korea converted four of five to win the crown.