North Korea national football team

Korea DPR
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Chollima
(Korean: 천리마)[1]
Samba of East Asia
(Korean: 동아시아의 삼바)
AssociationDPR Korea Football Association
ConfederationAFC (Asia)
Sub-confederationEAFF (East Asia)
Head coachSin Yong-nam
CaptainJang Kuk-chol
Most capsRi Myong-guk (118)
Top scorerJong Il-gwan (31)
Home stadiumKim Il Sung Stadium
FIFA codePRK
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 111 Steady (24 October 2024)[2]
Highest57 (November 1993)
Lowest181 (October – November 1998)
First international
 China 0–1 North Korea 
(Beijing, China; 7 October 1956)[3]
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
Appearances2 (first in 1966)
Best resultQuarter-finals (1966)
AFC Asian Cup
Appearances6 (first in 1980)
Best resultFourth place (1980)
AFC Challenge Cup
Appearances3 (first in 2008)
Best resultChampions (2010, 2012)
EAFF E-1 Football Championship
Appearances4 (first in 2005)
Best resultThird place (2005, 2015)
DPR of Korea national football team
Chosŏn'gŭl
Hancha
Revised RomanizationJoseon Minjujuui Inmin Gonghwaguk Chukgu Gukga Daepyo Tim
McCune–ReischauerChosŏn Minjujuŭi Inmin Konghwaguk Ch'ukku Kukka Taep'yo T'im
Munhwaŏ
Chosŏn'gŭl
Hancha
Revised RomanizationJoseon Minjujuui Inmin Gonghwaguk Gukga Jonghap Tim
McCune–ReischauerChosŏn Minjujuŭi Inmin Konghwaguk Kukka Chonghap T'im

The North Korea national football team (Munhwaeo Korean: 조선민주주의인민공화국 국가종합팀 (North Korean romanisation: Josŏn minjujuŭi inmin konghwaguk kukka chonghap thim), recognized as Korea DPR by FIFA)[6] represents North Korea in men's international football and it is controlled by the DPR Korea Football Association, the governing body for Football in North Korea. The team represents both FIFA and Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

In their 1966 FIFA World Cup debut, North Korea reached the quarter-finals and beat Italy in the group stage, becoming the first men's Asian team in history to make it past the group stage. During the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, controversy arose when the team's supporters rioted, interfering with the opponents' safe egress from the stadium, because of North Korea's failure to qualify. In 2009, the team qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the second World Cup appearance in their history. North Korea has qualified for the AFC Asian Cup six times; in 1980, when they finished fourth, in 1992, 2011, in 2015, and in 2019. The current team is composed of both native North Koreans and Zainichi Koreans.

  1. ^ Montague, James (12 December 2017). "Inside the Secret World of Football in North Korea". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on 3 January 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  2. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  3. ^ "North Korea matches, ratings and points exchanged". Archived from the original on 22 November 2010. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
  4. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 16 October 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  5. ^ a b North Korea Archived 3 January 2019 at the Wayback Machine at World Football Elo Ratings
  6. ^ "Korea DPR". FIFA. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022.