The tie at the Bali United Training Center is set to be a thriller with Korea Republic, the 2009 AFC U-16 Women’s Championship winners, playing DPR Korea side seeking a fourth title.

“We’ve shown a high level both in offensive and defensive organisation in training. We focused on rapid transition and recovering the ball in different situations and the players have been adjusting well,” said Kim.

“We are closely communicating with the medical teams regarding players and checking the condition of the players every day. All the players are in good condition so far.”

“The recent AFC Women’s U20 Asian Cup (Uzbekistan 2024) was also a good reference for us to gauge our level against teams. So, we need to make every effort in the match against DPR Korea.

“After the success of 2009, Korea Republic have not won the title. The level of Asian countries has increased significantly but we will not be satisfied with simply finishing in the top three and qualifying for the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup. We are also looking to win the title.”

DPR Korea head coach Song Sung Gwon knows what it takes to win, having led his nation to the AFC Women’s U20 Asian Cup Uzbekistan™ ۲۰۲۴ title in March.

“We had an extensive training camp in China PR throughout February, spanning approximately 20 days. During this time, we had the opportunity to test our skills against local club teams in two competitive matches,” said Song.

“The opponents we are set to face in the upcoming matches are undoubtedly strong. However, we are fully committed to giving our best performance and striving for success in our first match. We approach each game with a determined mindset and focus.

“As a team, we firmly believe that with hard work and dedication, we can achieve our goals. We understand the importance of giving our all in every match, and we have confidence in our abilities to succeed.”