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North Korea national football team facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Korea DPR
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s) Chollima
(Korean: 천리마)
Samba of East Asia
(Korean: 동아시아의 삼바)
Association DPR Korea Football Association (PRKFA)
Confederation AFC (Asia)
Sub-confederation EAFF (East Asia)
Head coach Sin Yong-nam
Captain Jang Kuk-chol
Most caps Ri Myong-guk (118)
Top scorer Jong Il-gwan (31)
Home stadium Kim Il Sung Stadium
FIFA code PRK
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 121 Decrease 12 (7 February 2019)
Highest 57 (November 1993)
Lowest 181 (October – November 1998)
Elo ranking
Current 127 Decrease 31 (3 March 2019)
Highest 10 (January 1970)
Lowest 131 (June 2019)
First international
 China 0–1 North Korea 
(Beijing, China; 7 October 1956)
Biggest win
 North Korea 21–0 Guam 
(Taipei, Taiwan; 11 March 2005)
Biggest defeat
 Portugal 7–0 North Korea 
(Cape Town, South Africa; 21 June 2010)
World Cup
Appearances 2 (first in 1966)
Best result Quarter-finals (1966)
AFC Asian Cup
Appearances 6 (first in 1980)
Best result Fourth place (1980)
AFC Challenge Cup
Appearances 3 (first in 2008)
Best result Champions (2010, 2012)
EAFF E-1 Football Championship
Appearances 4 (first in 2005)
Best result Third place (2005, 2015)
Medal record
Asian Games
Gold 1978 Thailand Team
Silver 1990 China Team
AFC Challenge Cup
Gold 2012 Nepal Team
Gold 2010 Sri Lanka Team
Bronze 2008 India Team
EAFF E-1 Football Championship
Bronze 2005 South Korea Team
Bronze 2015 China Team
East Asian Games
Silver 1993 Shanghai Team
DPR of Korea national football team
Chosŏn'gŭl
조선민주주의인민공화국 축구 국가대표팀
Hancha
朝鮮民主主義人民共和國蹴球國家代表팀
Revised Romanization Joseon Minjujuui Inmin Gonghwaguk Chukgu Gukga Daepyo Tim
McCune–Reischauer Chosŏn Minjujuŭi Inmin Konghwaguk Ch'ukku Kukka Taep'yo T'im
Munhwaŏ
Chosŏn'gŭl
조선민주주의인민공화국 국가종합팀
Hancha
朝鮮民主主義人民共和國國家綜合팀
Revised Romanization Joseon Minjujuui Inmin Gonghwaguk Gukga Jonghap Tim
McCune–Reischauer Chosŏn Minjujuŭi Inmin Konghwaguk Kukka Chonghap T'im

The North Korea national football team represents North Korea in men's international football. It is controlled by the DPR Korea Football Association. This group manages football in North Korea. The team joined FIFA in 1958 and the AFC in 1974.

North Korea's national team first played in the FIFA World Cup in 1966. They reached the quarter-finals, beating Italy in the group stage. This made them the first men's Asian team to get past the group stage. In 2009, the team qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. This was their second time in the World Cup. North Korea has also played in the AFC Asian Cup six times. They finished fourth in 1980. They also appeared in 1992, 2011, 2015, and 2019. The team includes players from North Korea and Zainichi Koreans.

Team History and Achievements

Early Days and 1966 World Cup

The North Korea Football Association started in 1945. They joined the AFC in 1954 and FIFA in 1958. North Korea's first official match was on March 22, 1964. They played against Burma in Rangoon. This was for the 1964 Olympic qualifiers. The game ended in a 0–0 draw.

In 1965, the team played in the 1966 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. FIFA decided to give only one spot to teams from Africa, Asia, and Oceania. All African countries protested and left the competition. This left only North Korea and Australia. North Korea won both matches (6–1 and 3–1). They qualified for the World Cup finals.

At the 1966 FIFA World Cup, North Korea was in Group 4. They played against the USSR, Italy, and Chile. They lost their first game to the Soviets. Then, they drew 1–1 against Chile. Pak Seung-zin scored North Korea's first World Cup goal. The last group match was against Italy. North Korea won 1–0 with a goal from Pak Doo-ik. This was a huge surprise. It was the first time an Asian team reached the World Cup quarter-finals. The local fans in Middlesbrough cheered for the team.

In the quarter-finals, North Korea played Portugal. Portugal had beaten Brazil. North Korea started strong, leading 3–0 after 25 minutes. Goals came from Pak Seung-zin, Yang Seung-kook, and Li Dong-woon. But Portugal's star player, Eusébio, scored four goals. Portugal won 5–3. When the North Korean players returned home, they were celebrated as heroes. Pak Seung-zin is still North Korea's top scorer in the World Cup with two goals.

Years later, a British director named Dan Gordon made a film. It was called The Game of Their Lives. He found seven players from the 1966 team. The film showed how much the British public loved them.

Football in the 1970s and 1980s

After the 1966 World Cup, North Korea played fewer international matches. They did not enter some Olympic or World Cup qualifiers. In 1972, they played in the 1972 Olympic qualifiers. They won against Syria and Iraq. But they lost to Iran in a play-off.

North Korea first tried to qualify for the Asian Cup in 1976. They finished first in their group. They beat Hong Kong to qualify for the main tournament. However, North Korea later withdrew from the competition.

In 1976, the team qualified for the Olympic football tournament for the second time. They beat Canada 3–1. They lost to the Soviets 0–3. They still reached the quarter-finals. There, they lost 5–0 to Poland.

In 1980, North Korea played in the 1980 AFC Asian Cup. They had wins against Thailand and Malaysia. They finished second in their group. In the semi-finals, they played South Korea. North Korea lost 2–1. They finished fourth after losing the third-place game to Iran. This was their best Asian Cup result.

In the 1982 World Cup qualifiers, North Korea won their first group. They beat Japan in the semi-finals. But they lost to China in the final group match. This ended their World Cup hopes. In the 1982 Asian Games, they reached the semi-finals. They lost to Kuwait in extra time. After the match, North Korean players reacted strongly. The AFC banned them for two years. This meant they missed the 1984 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers and 1984 Olympic qualifiers.

Challenges and Returns (1990s-2000s)

North Korea did not play official matches for almost four years. For the 1986 World Cup qualifiers, they were in a group with Japan and Singapore. Japan won the group this time.

In 1991, North Korea hired its first foreign coach, Pál Csernai from Hungary. They qualified for the 1992 AFC Asian Cup. This was their second time in the Asian Cup. In the tournament, they were in a group with Japan, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. They did not win any matches and left in the first round.

North Korea then tried to qualify for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. They won their first group without losing. But in the next round, they lost four games in a row. After this, the team stopped playing for more than four years. This was a difficult time for North Korea.

They returned to official games in 2000. They qualified for the final tournament. They also tried for the 2000 Olympics but did not advance. After this, the team was sidelined again. They did not enter the 2002 World Cup qualifiers.

In 2003, North Korea started the 2004 AFC Asian Cup qualification. They finished last in their group. During these games, there were some issues. North Korea refused visas for Jordanian players. The AFC gave Jordan a 3–0 win. North Korea was banned from all Asian competitions for a year, including the 2007 AFC Asian Cup.

In 2005, North Korea returned for the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. They won their first group. But in the next round, they finished last. A few months later, they played in the 2005 East Asian Football Championship. They set a record for their biggest win, beating Guam 21–0. They finished third in the tournament.

First Title and Return to World Cup (2006–2010)

Because of the ban, North Korea could not play in the 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. In 2008, they entered the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup. This competition was for developing nations. The winner would qualify for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. North Korea finished third in this tournament.

In the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, North Korea easily beat Mongolia. They then finished second behind South Korea. This qualified them for the World Cup for the second time. There were some issues with South Korea. North Korea refused to play the South Korean anthem or fly their flag. So, their matches had to be played in China.

In early 2010, North Korea played in the 2010 AFC Challenge Cup. The winner would go to the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. North Korea won the tournament. This was their first major title. This win also secured their spot in the Asian Cup.

North Korea was the lowest-ranked team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. They were in a tough group with Brazil, Portugal, and Côte d'Ivoire. They lost 2–1 to Brazil. Then, they lost 7–0 to Portugal. This was their biggest defeat ever. The match was shown live in North Korea, which was very rare. But the broadcast stopped after Portugal's fourth goal. North Korea lost their final match 3–0 to Côte d'Ivoire. They had the worst performance of any team in that World Cup.

Recent Years (2011–Present)

In 2011, North Korea played in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. They drew 0–0 with the United Arab Emirates. They lost 1–0 to Iran and Iraq. They did not get past the group stage.

In March 2012, North Korea defended their title in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup. They won the tournament again. This meant they qualified for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. This was their second Asian Cup in a row.

The team had a two-year unbeaten run. This ended in November 2013 with a loss to Kuwait. They qualified for the 2015 EAFF East Asian Cup finals. At the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, North Korea lost all three of their matches. After this, they won several friendly matches. They finished third in the 2015 EAFF East Asian Cup. They even beat Japan 2–1.

In the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, North Korea started well. But they lost to the Philippines in their final match. This meant they did not qualify for the next round. This led to a change in coaches. Jørn Andersen became the second European coach for North Korea.

In the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, North Korea lost all their matches. They lost 0–4 to Saudi Arabia, 0–6 to Qatar, and 1–4 to Lebanon. They had the worst record of all 24 teams.

North Korea then played in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. They beat Lebanon 2–0. They also won 1–0 against Sri Lanka. They then played South Korea in Pyongyang. This was the first time in a qualifier that the two Koreas played in Pyongyang. The match was not televised live. No Korean fans or foreign journalists were allowed. The game ended in a 0–0 draw. North Korea later withdrew from qualifying due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. FIFA and the AFC cancelled all their results. This meant North Korea would not play in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.

In August 2023, North Korea said they wanted to return to sports. They showed interest in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification. On November 16, 2023, North Korea played Syria, losing 1–0. On November 21, they beat Myanmar 6–1. Jong Il-gwan scored three goals.

On June 11, 2024, North Korea reached the final round of World Cup qualification. This was their first time since 2010. They also qualified for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

Team Image

Audience at Brazil and North Korea match at FIFA World Cup 2010-06-15 4
North Korea's flag at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

From 2014 to January 2024, the North Korean sports company Choeusu made the team's uniforms. In January 2024, the Chinese brand Inlang became the new uniform sponsor.

Period Kit Provider
0000–1993 United Kingdom Admiral
1998–2002 Italy Fila
2002–2003 Italy Lotto
2003–2005 Germany Adidas
2005–2006 United Kingdom Umbro
2006–2008 Denmark Hummel
2008–2010 China ERKE
2010–2014 Italy Legea
2014–2024 North Korea Ch'oeusu
2024–present China Inlang

Stadiums

North Korea usually plays home matches at the Kim Il Sung Stadium in Pyongyang. This stadium holds 50,000 people. They also use the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium in Pyongyang. It is one of the largest stadiums in the world, holding 114,000 people. Since 2019, North Korea has hosted home matches in other Asian countries.

North Korea national football team home stadiums
Image Stadium Capacity Location Last match
Arirang Mass Games 12.JPG Rungrado 1st of May Stadium 114,000 Pyongyang v   Jordan (14 June 2010; 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification)
North Korea v Philippines, 8 October 2015 F.png Kim Il Sung Stadium 50,000 Pyongyang v   South Korea (15 October 2019; 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification)

Neutral Venues

Sometimes, North Korea plays their "home" matches in other countries. This happens for World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers.

North Korea neutral home stadiums
Image Stadium Capacity Location Last match
Stadium Laos National Stadium.jpg New Laos National Stadium 25,000 Vientiane, Laos v   Uzbekistan (19 November 2024; 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification)

Match Results and Schedule

Here are the team's match results from the last year and upcoming games.

      Win       Draw       Loss       Fixture

2024 Matches

6 June 2026 World Cup qualification R2 North Korea  1–0  Syria Vientiane, Laos
20:00 UTC+7
  • Jong Il-gwan Goal 90+2'
Stadium: New Laos National Stadium
Attendance: 100
Referee: Salman Ahmad Falahi (Qatar)
11 June 2026 World Cup qualification R2 North Korea  4–1  Myanmar Vientiane, Laos
20:00 UTC+7
  • Ri Il-song Goal 12'
  • Ri Jo-guk Goal 16'43'87' (pen.)
  • Wai Lin Aung Goal 57'
Stadium: New Laos National Stadium
Attendance: 141
Referee: Shen Yinhao (China)
27 August Friendly Jordan  0–0  North Korea Amman, Jordan
19:00 UTC+3 Stadium: Petra Stadium
Attendance: 0
Note: The match was held behind closed doors.
29 August Friendly Jordan  2–1  North Korea Amman, Jordan
19:00 UTC+3
  • Olwan Goal Goal
Stadium: Amman International Stadium
Attendance: 0
Note: The match was held behind closed doors.
5 September 2026 World Cup qualification R3 Uzbekistan  1–0  North Korea Tashkent, Uzbekistan
19:00 UTC+5
  • Masharipov Goal 20'
Stadium: Milliy Stadium
Attendance: 24,205
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)
10 September 2026 World Cup qualification R3 North Korea  2–2  Qatar Vientiane, Laos
19:00 UTC+7
  • Ri Il-song Goal 19'
  • Kang Kuk-chol Goal 52'
Stadium: New Laos National Stadium
Attendance: 140
Referee: Nazmi Nasaruddin (Malaysia)
10 October 2026 World Cup qualification R3 United Arab Emirates  1–1  North Korea Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
20:00 UTC+4
  • Al-Ghassani Goal 66'
  • Jong Il-gwan Goal 86'
Stadium: Hazza bin Zayed Stadium
Attendance: 8,536
Referee: Adham Makhadmeh (Jordan)
15 October 2026 World Cup qualification R3 Kyrgyzstan  1–0  North Korea Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
20:00 UTC+6
  • Brauzman Goal 11'
Stadium: Dolen Omurzakov Stadium
Attendance: 9,769
Referee: Khaled Al-Hoish (Saudi Arabia)
14 November 2026 World Cup qualification R3 North Korea  2–3  Iran Vientiane, Laos
19:00 UTC+7
  • Taremi Goal 56' (o.g.)
  • Kim Yu-song Goal 59'
  • Ghayedi Goal 29'
  • Mohebbi Goal 41'45'
Stadium: New Laos National Stadium
Attendance: 100
Referee: Sadullo Gulmurodi (Tajikistan)
19 November 2026 World Cup qualification R3 North Korea  0–1  Uzbekistan Vientiane, Laos
19:00 UTC+7
  • Fayzullaev Goal 44'
Stadium: New Laos National Stadium
Attendance: 166
Referee: Ahmed Al-Ali (Kuwait)
8 December 2025 EAFF E-1 preliminary Guam  Cancelled  North Korea Mong Kok, Hong Kong
14:00 UTC+8 Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium
Note: North Korea withdrew shortly after the draw
14 December 2025 EAFF E-1 preliminary North Korea  Cancelled  Macau Mong Kok, Hong Kong
14:00 UTC+8 Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium
Note: North Korea withdrew shortly after the draw

2025 Matches

25 January Hybrid friendly Surkhon Termez Uzbekistan 1–3  North Korea Antalya, Turkey
18:00 UTC+3
  • Kolesnichenko Goal 51'
  • Ri Jo-Guk Goal 69'82'
  • Ri Kwang-myong Goal 75'
Stadium: Arslan Zeki Demirci Sports Complex
28 January Hybrid friendly Gjilani Kosovo Cancelled  North Korea Antalya, Turkey
--:-- UTC+3
2 February Hybrid friendly Tyumen Russia 0–1  North Korea Antalya, Turkey
13:00 UTC+3
  • Kang Kuk-chol Goal 25' (pen.)
4 February Hybrid friendly Baltika Kaliningrad Russia 1–1  North Korea Antalya, Turkey
18:00 UTC+3
  • Chernov Goal 9'
  • Ri Jo-guk Goal 11'
7 February Hybrid friendly AGMK Uzbekistan 0–1  North Korea Antalya, Turkey
--:-- UTC+3
  • Jang Kuk-chol Goal
Stadium: Arslan Zeki Demirci Sports Complex
11 February Hybrid friendly Leningradets Russia 3–2  North Korea Antalya, Turkey
--:-- UTC+3
  • Kazakov Goal 8'
  • Barkov Goal 60'
  • Markelov Goal 85'
  • Ri Kwang-myong Goal 13'
  • Paek Chung-song Goal 88'
14 February Hybrid friendly Rubin Kazan Russia 1–4  North Korea Antalya, Turkey
17:00 UTC+3
  • Čumić Goal 78'
  • Pak Kwang-hun Goal 44'
  • Kim Sung-hye Goal 50'
  • Ri Kum chol Goal 71'80'
Stadium: Calista Football Centre
17 February Friendly Kazakhstan  0–2  North Korea Antalya, Turkey
17:00 UTC+3
  • Ri Il-song Goal 70'90+5'
Stadium: Titanic Deluxe Belek Football Center
Referee: Atilla Karaoğlan (Turkey)
18 February Hybrid friendly Qizilqum Uzbekistan 0–1  North Korea Antalya, Turkey
--:-- UTC+3
  • Kim Sung-hye Goal 60'
Stadium: Arslan Zeki Demirci Sports Complex
14 March Friendly Jordan  1–1  North Korea Amman, Jordan
21:15 UTC+3
  • Al-Naimat Goal 43'
Stadium: Amman International Stadium
Attendance: 0
20 March 2026 World Cup qualification R3 Qatar  5–1  North Korea Doha, Qatar
21:15 UTC+3
  • Afif Goal 17'
  • Al Ganehi Goal 23'
  • Kim Yu-song Goal 34' (o.g.)
  • Al-Rawi Goal 56'
  • Alaaeldin Goal 66'
Pak Kwang-hun Goal 86' Stadium: Jassim bin Hamad Stadium
Attendance: 10,375
Referee: Mohanad Qasim Sarray (Iraq)
25 March 2026 World Cup qualification R3 North Korea  1–2  United Arab Emirates Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
21:15 UTC+3
  • Kim Yu-song Goal 43'
  • Lima Goal 5'
  • Adil Goal 90+8'
Stadium: Prince Faisal bin Fahd Sports City Stadium
Attendance: 223
Referee: Mohammed Al Hoish (Saudi Arabia)
5 June 2026 World Cup qualification R3 North Korea  2–2  Kyrgyzstan Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
21:15 UTC+3
  • Pak Kwang-hun Goal 44'
  • Ri Jo-guk Goal 52'
  • Alykulov Goal 57'
  • Kim Sung-hye Goal 90+5' (o.g.)
Stadium: Prince Faisal bin Fahd Sports City Stadium
Attendance: 100
Referee: Adham Makhadmeh (Jordan)
10 June 2026 World Cup qualification R3 Iran  3–0  North Korea Tehran, Iran
19:30 UTC+3:30
  • Mohebi Goal 74'
  • Taremi Goal 77'
  • Hosseinzadeh Goal 90+3'
Stadium: Azadi Stadium
Referee: Nazmi Nasaruddin (Malaysia)

Coaching Staff

Role Name
Head coach North Korea Sin Yong-nam
Assistant coaches North Korea Pak Nam-chol
North Korea Kim Kum-il
Goalkeeping coach North Korea Ri Myong-guk
Match analyst North Korea Choe Gwan-il
Performance coach North Korea Pak Kuk-myong
Team doctors North Korea Jang Il-bom
North Korea Song Jong-chol
Physiotherapists North Korea Choe Nam-kuk
North Korea Kim Myong-il
North Korea Ri Song-pyong
North Korea Yun Kuk-hyong
Team coordinator North Korea Ri Chol-myong
Technical director North Korea Yun Jong-su

Players

Current Squad

These players were called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification games in June 2025.

  • All caps and goals are updated as of June 10, 2025, after the match against Iran.
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Kang Ju-hyok (1997-05-31) 31 May 1997 (age 28) 16 0 North Korea Hwaebul
18 1GK Hong Kil-ryong (2005-07-01) 1 July 2005 (age 20) 0 0 North Korea Hwaebul
21 1GK Yu Kwang-jun (2000-11-05) 5 November 2000 (age 24) 2 0 North Korea Ryomyong

2 2DF Kim Jin-hyok (2002-03-25) 25 March 2002 (age 23) 4 0 North Korea Sonbong
3 2DF Jang Kuk-chol (captain) (1994-02-16) 16 February 1994 (age 31) 75 5 North Korea Hwaebul
5 2DF Jong Hwi-nam (2003-05-15) 15 May 2003 (age 22) 3 0 North Korea Unknown
12 2DF Choe Ryong-il (2004-03-23) 23 March 2004 (age 21) 4 0 North Korea April 25
16 2DF Kim Yu-song (2003-07-18) 18 July 2003 (age 22) 16 2 North Korea Amnokgang
19 2DF Kim Sung-hye (2003-01-15) 15 January 2003 (age 22) 6 0 North Korea Sonbong
23 2DF Jong Kum-song (1997-01-24) 24 January 1997 (age 28) 6 0 North Korea Rimyongsu

6 3MF Kye Tam (2000-10-06) 6 October 2000 (age 24) 6 0 North Korea Ryomyong
8 3MF Sin Kwang-nam (2003-11-01) 1 November 2003 (age 21) 2 0 North Korea Unknown
15 3MF Ra Myong-song (2003-01-06) 6 January 2003 (age 22) 5 0 North Korea Unknown
17 3MF Kang Kuk-chol (1999-09-29) 29 September 1999 (age 25) 29 1 North Korea Rimyongsu
20 3MF Paek Chung-song (2000-02-25) 25 February 2000 (age 25) 16 0 North Korea Ryomyong
22 3MF Han Chung-guk (2002-03-28) 28 March 2002 (age 23) 1 0 North Korea Unknown

4 4FW Ri Kum-chol (2004-03-26) 26 March 2004 (age 21) 2 0 North Korea April 25
7 4FW Kim Kuk-jin (2000-10-11) 11 October 2000 (age 24) 12 0 North Korea Kigwancha
9 4FW Ri Jo-guk (2002-05-09) 9 May 2002 (age 23) 11 4 North Korea Ryomyong
10 4FW Ri Il-song (2004-01-14) 14 January 2004 (age 21) 14 4 North Korea Ryomyong
11 4FW Pak Kwang-hun (1997-04-18) 18 April 1997 (age 28) 7 2 North Korea Rimyongsu
13 4FW Choe Kuk (2005-03-21) 21 March 2005 (age 20) 3 0 North Korea Wolmido
14 4FW Ri Kwang-myong (2005-04-12) 12 April 2005 (age 20) 3 0 North Korea Unknown

Recent Call-ups

These players have been called up in the last 12 months and could still be chosen.


Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Sin Tae-song (2000-05-30) 30 May 2000 (age 25) 0 0 North Korea April 25 v.  Uzbekistan, 19 November 2024

DF Kim Pom-hyok (2000-04-15) 15 April 2000 (age 25) 9 0 North Korea Ryomyong v.  Uzbekistan, 19 November 2024
DF Choe Ok-chol (1998-11-11) 11 November 1998 (age 26) 11 0 North Korea Kigwancha v.  Uzbekistan, 19 November 2024
DF Kim Kyong-sok (2000-02-19) 19 February 2000 (age 25) 1 0 North Korea Sonbong v.  Japan, 26 March 2024
DF Choe Jin-nam (1998-11-20) 20 November 1998 (age 26) 1 0 North Korea Ryomyong v.  Japan, 26 March 2024

MF Kim Kuk-bom (1995-02-19) 19 February 1995 (age 30) 20 0 North Korea Ryomyong v.  Qatar, 20 March 2025 INJ
MF Kim Kum-chon (2003-03-10) 10 March 2003 (age 22) 0 0 North Korea Kigwancha v.  Uzbekistan, 19 November 2024
MF Ri Hun (1997-08-31) 31 August 1997 (age 27) 2 0 North Korea Ryomyong v.  Uzbekistan, 19 November 2024
MF Ri Un-chol (1995-07-13) 13 July 1995 (age 30) 34 1 North Korea Kigwancha v.  Uzbekistan, 19 November 2024
MF Mun In-ju (1999-08-22) 22 August 1999 (age 25) 1 0 Japan FC Gifu v.  Japan, 26 March 2024
MF Kim Hyon (2000-03-06) 6 March 2000 (age 25) 0 0 North Korea Amnokgang v.  Japan, 21 March 2024PRE

FW Han Kwang-song (1998-09-11) 11 September 1998 (age 26) 21 2 North Korea April 25 v.  Uzbekistan, 19 November 2024
FW Jong Il-gwan (1992-10-30) 30 October 1992 (age 32) 85 31 North Korea Ryomyong v.  Uzbekistan, 19 November 2024
FW Choe Ju-song (1996-01-27) 27 January 1996 (age 29) 16 1 North Korea Amnokgang v.  Uzbekistan, 19 November 2024

Notes
  • INJ = Withdrawn due to injury.
  • PRE = Preliminary squad/standby.
  • SUS = Serving suspension

Player Records

Players in bold are still active with North Korea.

Most Appearances

Rank Name Caps Goals Career
1 Ri Myong-guk 118 0 2007–2019
2 Jong Il-gwan 85 31 2011–present
3 Pak Nam-chol 77 15 2004–2012
4 Jang Kuk-chol 72 5 2011–present
5 Ri Kwang-chon 70 1 2001–2012
6 Kim Yong-jun 62 8 2001–2011
7 Pak Song-chol 58 13 2007–2017
8 Mun In-guk 55 6 2004–2011
Tak Yong-Bin 55 2 1985–1993
10 Jon Kwang-Ik 53 2 2007–2016

Top Goalscorers

Jong Il-Gwan
Jong Il-gwan is North Korea's top goalscorer with 31 goals.
Rank Player Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Jong Il-gwan 31 85 0.36 2011–present
2 Jong Tae-se 15 33 0.45 2007–2011
Pak Nam-chol 15 77 0.19 2004–2012
4 Pak Kwang-ryong 14 43 0.33 2009–2023
5 Hong Yong-jo 13 51 0.25 2002–2011
Pak Song-chol 13 58 0.22 2007–2017
7 Choe Chol-man 11 21 0.52 2005–2010
8 Choi Yong-son 10 29 0.34 1990–1993
9 Kang Jin-Hyok 9 6 1.5 2005–2007
An Chol-Hyok 9 29 0.31 2005–2011

Tournament Records

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record Qualification record
Year Result Position Pld W D L GF GA Squad Pld W D L GF GA
Uruguay 1930 Part of Japan Part of Japan
Italy 1934
France 1938
Brazil 1950 Not a FIFA member Not a FIFA member
Switzerland 1954
Sweden 1958
Chile 1962 Did not enter Did not enter
England 1966 Quarter-finals 8th 4 1 1 2 5 9 Squad 2 2 0 0 9 2
Mexico 1970 Withdrew Withdrew
West Germany 1974 Did not qualify 6 1 3 2 5 5
Argentina 1978 Withdrew Withdrew
Spain 1982 Did not qualify 5 3 1 1 9 6
Mexico 1986 4 1 2 1 3 2
Italy 1990 11 5 2 4 13 9
United States 1994 13 8 1 4 24 18
France 1998 Did not enter Did not enter
South Korea Japan 2002
Germany 2006 Did not qualify 12 4 2 6 16 16
South Africa 2010 Group stage 32nd 3 0 0 3 1 12 Squad 16 8 6 2 20 7
Brazil 2014 Did not qualify 6 2 1 3 3 4
Russia 2018 8 5 1 2 14 8
Qatar 2022 Withdrew Withdrew
Canada Mexico United States 2026 Did not qualify 16 3 3 10 20 28
Morocco Portugal Spain 2030 To be determined To be determined
Saudi Arabia 2034
Total Quarter-finals 2/17 7 1 1 5 6 21 99 42 22 35 136 105

AFC Asian Cup

AFC Asian Cup record Qualification record
Year Result Position Pld W D L GF GA Squad Pld W D L GF GA
Hong Kong 1956 Not an AFC member Not an AFC member
South Korea 1960
Israel 1964
Iran 1968
Thailand 1972
Iran 1976 Qualified but withdrew 5 3 1 1 7 4
Kuwait 1980 Fourth place 4th 6 3 0 3 10 12 Squad 5 4 1 0 9 2
Singapore 1984 Banned Banned
Qatar 1988 Did not qualify 4 2 1 1 3 2
Japan 1992 Group stage 8th 3 0 1 2 2 5 Squad 3 2 1 0 8 0
United Arab Emirates 1996 Did not enter Did not enter
Lebanon 2000 Did not qualify 6 3 2 1 11 7
China 2004 8 1 2 5 5 15
Indonesia Malaysia Thailand Vietnam 2007 Banned Banned
Qatar 2011 Group stage 12th 3 0 1 2 0 2 Squad AFC Challenge Cup
Australia 2015 14th 3 0 0 3 2 7 Squad
United Arab Emirates 2019 24th 3 0 0 3 1 14 Squad 14 8 3 3 27 18
Qatar 2023 Withdrew Withdrew during qualifying
Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualified 6 3 0 3 11 7
Total Fourth place 6/14 18 3 2 13 15 40 51 26 11 14 76 55

EAFF Championship

EAFF Championship record Preliminary round
Year Result Position Pld W D L GF GA Squad Pld W D L GF GA
Japan 2003 Withdrew Withdrew
South Korea 2005 Third place 3rd 3 1 1 1 1 2 Squad 4 4 0 0 31 0
China 2008 Fourth place 4th 3 0 2 1 3 5 Squad 3 3 0 0 15 1
Japan 2010 Did not qualify 3 2 1 0 11 3
South Korea 2013 4 3 1 0 16 2
China 2015 Third place 3rd 3 1 1 1 2 3 Squad 3 2 1 0 7 2
Japan 2017 Fourth place 4th 3 0 1 2 1 3 Squad 3 3 0 0 5 0
South Korea 2019 Did not qualify 3 2 1 0 6 1
Japan 2022 Did not participate Not held
South Korea 2025 Withdrew Withdrew
Total Third place 4/10 12 2 5 5 7 13 23 19 4 0 91 9

Asian Games

Asian Games record
Year Result Position Pld W D L GF GA Squad
1951 to 1970 Did not enter
Iran 1974 Fourth place 4th 7 3 1 3 11 8 Squad
Thailand 1978 Champions 1st 6 4 2 0 12 3 Squad
India 1982 Fourth place 4th 6 2 2 2 9 8 Squad
South Korea 1986 Did not enter
China 1990 Runners-up 2nd 5 1 3 1 2 2 Squad
Japan 1994 Did not enter
Thailand 1998 Second round 13th 4 1 2 1 6 8 Squad
2002–present See North Korea national under-23 football team
Total 1 Gold medal 5/13 28 11 10 7 40 29

AFC Challenge Cup

AFC Challenge Cup record
Year Result Position Pld W D L GF GA
Bangladesh 2006 Did not enter
India 2008 Third place 3rd 5 4 0 1 9 1
Sri Lanka 2010 Champions 1st 5 3 2 0 14 2
Nepal 2012 Champions 1st 5 5 0 0 12 1
Maldives 2014 Did not enter
Total 2 Titles 3/5 15 12 2 1 35 4

Dynasty Cup

Dynasty Cup record
Year Result Position Pld W D L GF GA
China 1990 Third place 3rd 3 0 1 2 1 3
China 1992 Third place 3rd 3 0 2 1 4 7
Hong Kong 1995 Did not enter
Japan 1998
Total Third place 2/4 6 0 3 3 5 10

Overall Results

The table below shows North Korea's total international record as of July 10, 2025.

Total Pld W D L GF GA
362 140 90 122 500 411
  • https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/nordkorea-team/21/
  • FIFA.com

Honours and Awards

Continental Titles

  • AFC Challenge Cup
    • 1 Champions (2): 2010, 2012
    • 3 Third place (1): 2008
  • Asian Games1
    • 1 Gold medal (1): 1978
    • 2 Silver medal (1): 1990

Regional Titles

  • EAFF East Asian Cup / EAFF E-1 Football Championship
    • 3 Third place (2): 2005, 2015

Friendly Tournament Wins

  • Nehru Cup (1): 1993
  • AIFF Intercontinental Cup (1): 2019
  • Qatar International Friendship Tournament (1): 2010
  • VFF Vietnam International Friendly Cup (1): 2010
  • King's Cup (3): 1986, 1987, 2002
  • Four Nations Tournament (1): 2001

Summary of Official Honours

This table shows official awards recognized by FIFA or its related football groups.

Senior Competition 1 2 3 Total
AFC Challenge Cup 2 0 1 3
Total 2 0 1 3
  1. Competition organized by OCA, officially not recognized by FIFA.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Corea del Norte para niños

  • Football in North Korea
  • North Korea–South Korea football rivalry
  • The Game of Their Lives (2002 film)
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North Korea national football team Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.