A North Korean soccer club’s victory in a rare inter-Korean match earlier this week set the stage for a shot at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Champions League final, a game that can fuel the country’s meteoric rise in the sport and bestow international prestige to the reclusive country.

But for Naegohyang Women’s FC based in Pyongyang, playing against Japan’s Tokyo Verdy Beleza for the continental title on Saturday won’t just bring glory to their country — the title comes with a $1 million prize and $500,000 for the runner-up.

The prize winnings, while significantly smaller than those offered