North Korea at the FIFA World Cup

North Korea qualified and participated in the 1966 and 2010 FIFA World Cup.

In 1966, North Korea won the first round after competing against the Soviet Union, Chile, and Italy. North Korea progressed to the second round, thus making them the first Asian country to have qualified past the first round. However, they lost to Portugal in the quarter finals. Seven players were consistently fielded during these matches.

North Korea was the lowest ranking team to qualifying in the 2010 World Cup, and did not pass the group rounds after losing in all three group competitions. Some public (but unconfirmed) conspiracies circulated around 2010s FIFA World Cup, with reports that the North Korean government sentenced the team to work in mines proceeding their losses within the competitions.

North Korea had four top goalscorers in 1966, and only one goalscorer in the 2010 World Cup.

In 1930, 1934, and 1938 North Korea entered and was present at the FIFA World Cup as part of Japan. However, in the additional years, North Korea either withdrew (1970 & 1978), or did not enter or qualify in the World Cup.

Summary

1966 in England

After South Africa being disqualified and South Korea having withdrawn due to logistical reasons, North Korea had to compete in a play-off match against Australia in order to qualify, which they won 9-2 on aggregate.

In the third and decisive group match, North Korea beat title contenders Italy 1-0, eliminating them from the competition and advancing to the second stage. No team from Asia has ever progressed from the first round before, and the feat would not be repeated until 1994, when Saudi Arabia reached the Round of 16.

In the quarter-final against Portugal, North Korea managed to lead 3-0 after 22 minutes, but the game was turned around with a final score of 3-5, with Portuguese star player Eusébio scoring four goals.

2010 in South Africa

With a final pre-tournament FIFA ranking of 105th in the world, North Korea was the lowest-ranked team to qualify for the World Cup since the rankings began in 1993.

2010 was North Korea's first appearance at the World Cup since 1966.[15] The draw placed North Korea in Group G. They played their first match against five-time winners Brazil on 15 June. Despite their best efforts, they were nevertheless outmatched and lost 1-2. In their next game against Portugal on 21 June, they were defeated 0–7. Despite starting well (as against Brazil), their defensive and well organised approach unravelled after Portugal scored on them. The Koreans lost their final match against Ivory Coast 0–3 on 25 June. Having lost all three group matches, they were knocked out, finishing at the bottom of Group G. It was reported that the small contingency of apparent North Korean football fans were actually Chinese people who bought tickets reserved for North Korean government officials.[16] North Korea subsequently denied the report, and claimed instead that the Chinese were small in number, and that the regime had permitted their travel. There were also reports that the North Korean government punished the coach and players for losing the matches by sending them on a hard labour in mines. However, FIFA's investigators could not confirm that.

Record at the FIFA World Cup
YearRoundPositionGPWD*LGFGA
1930Part of  Japan
1934
1938
1950 Did not enter
1954
1958
1962
1966Quarter-finals8th411259
1970Withdrew
1974Did not qualify
1978Withdrew
1982Did not qualify
1986
1990
1994
1998Did not enter
2002
2006Did not qualify
2010 Group stage 32nd 3 0 0 3 1 12
2014Did not qualify
2018
2022To be determined
2026
Total Quarter-finals 2/21 7 1 1 5 6 21
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks

By Match
World Cup Round Opponent Score Result Venue Scorers
1966Group stage Soviet Union0–3LMiddlesbrough—
 Chile1–1DMiddlesbroughPak S.Z.
 Italy1–0WMiddlesbroughPak D.I.
Quarter-finals Portugal3–5LLiverpoolPak S.Z., Li D.W., Yang S.K.
2010Group stage Brazil2–1LJohannesburgJi Y.N.
 Portugal7–0LCape Town—
 Ivory Coast0–3LNelspruit—

Record by Opponent
FIFA World Cup matches (by team)
Opponent Wins Draws Losses Total Goals Scored Goals Conceded
 Brazil001112
 Chile010111
 Italy100110
 Ivory Coast001103
 Portugal0022312
 Soviet Union001103

North Korea at the 1966 World Cup

Group 4
Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
 Soviet Union 3300616.006
 North Korea 3111240.503
 Italy 3102221.002
 Chile 3012250.401
Soviet Union 3–0 North Korea
Malofeyev  31', 88'
Banishevskiy  33'		 Report
Attendance: 22,000
Chile 1–1 North Korea
Marcos  26' (pen.) Report Pak Seung-zin  88'
Attendance: 16,000
North Korea 1–0 Italy
Pak Doo-ik  42' Report
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: Pierre Schwinte (France)

Quarter-finals
Portugal 5–3 North Korea
Eusébio  27', 43' (pen.), 56', 59' (pen.)
José Augusto  80'		 Report Pak Seung-zin  1'
Li Dong-woon  22'
Yang Seung-kook  25'
Attendance: 51,780

South Africa 2010
Main article: 2010 FIFA World Cup Group G

Group G
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Brazil 3 2 1 0 5 2 +3 7 Advance to knockout stage
2  Portugal 3 1 2 0 7 0 +7 5
3  Ivory Coast 3 1 1 1 4 3 +1 4
4  North Korea 3 0 0 3 1 12 −11 0
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tie-breaking criteria
Brazil 2–1 North Korea
Maicon  55'
Elano  72'		 Report Ji Yun-nam  89'
Attendance: 54,331
Portugal 7–0 North Korea
Meireles  29'
Simão  53'
Almeida  56'
Tiago  60', 89'
Liédson  81'
Ronaldo  87'		 Report
Attendance: 63,644
Referee: Pablo Pozo (Chile)
North Korea 0–3 Ivory Coast
Report Y. Touré  14'
Romaric  20'
Kalou  82'
Attendance: 34,763

Record players

Seven players have been fielded on all four matches in 1966, making them record World Cup players for their country:

No. Name Matches
1 Han Bong-Zin4
Im Seung-Hwi4
Lee Chang-Myung4
Lim Zoong-Sun4
Pak Doo-Ik4
Pak Seung-Zin4
Shin Yung-Kyoo4

Top goalscorers
No. Name Goals World Cups
1Pak Seung-Zin21966
2 Pak Doo-Ik11966
Lee Dong-Woon11966
Yang Sung-Kook11966
Ji Yun-Nam12010

References
  1. "Referee designations for matches 1–16" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 5 June 2010. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
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