S. Korean women's soccer team to face N. Korea for 2028 LA Olympics qualifiers

The South Korean national women's soccer team will face North Korea in the final Asian group qualifying round for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, setting up a potential trip to Pyongyang in December next year.

The Asian Football Confederation held the draw for the women’s soccer qualifiers at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Thursday.

South Korea, placed in Pot 2, was drawn into Group B alongside top-seeded North Korea, China and the Philippines. Group A consists of Japan, Australia, Taiwan and Uzbekistan.

South Korea will open its qualifying campaign with an away match against China on April 19, 2027, and host North Korea for a home game on April 24.

The team will then face the Philippines away on Oct. 7 and at home on Oct. 12, followed by a home match against China on Nov. 29. Its final group-stage fixture is scheduled to be an away match against North Korea on Dec. 4, 2027.

According to the schedule, the two Koreas are slated to face each other in both Seoul and Pyongyang. However, the actual venues for politically sensitive states could change under consultations between the national soccer associations and the AFC.

The Korea Football Association said the dates were based on the schedule announced by the AFC in advance and remained subject to change.

The winners of each group will qualify directly for the Los Angeles Olympics. The two runners-up will meet in a separate playoff with the winner advancing to an intercontinental playoff for another chance to secure an Olympic berth.

The South Korean women's national team has never qualified for the Olympic soccer tournament. It will seek its first appearance at the 2028 Games.