Korea DPR national football team
 |
|
| Nickname(s) | Chollima Football Team (천리마 축구단) |
|---|---|
| Association | DPR Korea Football Association |
| Confederation | AFC (Asia) |
| Sub-confederation | EAFF (East Asia) |
| Head coach | Jørn Andersen |
| Captain | Ri Myong-guk |
| Most caps | Ri Myong-guk (85) |
| Top scorer | Jong Tae-se (15) |
| Home stadium | Kim Il-sung Stadium, Pyongyang |
| FIFA code | PRK |
| FIFA ranking | |
| Current | 125  (12 January 2017)
|
| Highest | 57 (November 1993) |
| Lowest | 181 (October–November 1998) |
| Elo ranking | |
| Current | 78 (October 2016) |
| Highest | 26 (July 1966) |
| Lowest | 98 (31 March 2015) |
| First international | |
 North Korea 1–0 China PR  (Beijing, China; October 7, 1956) |
|
| Biggest win | |
North Korea 21–0 Guam  (Taipei, Taiwan; March 11, 2005) |
|
| Biggest defeat | |
 Portugal 7–0 North Korea (Cape Town, South Africa; June 21, 2010) |
|
| World Cup | |
| Appearances | 2 (first in 1966) |
| Best result | Quarter-finals, 1966 |
| Asian Cup | |
| Appearances | 4 (first in 1980) |
| Best result | Fourth place, 1980 |
| North 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- |
| Revised Romanization | Joseon Minjujuui Inmin Gonghwaguk Chukgu Gukga Daepyo Tim |
| McCune–Reischauer | Chosǒn Minjujuǔi Mingonghwaguk Ch'ukgu Kukka Taep'yo T'im |
| Munhwaŏ | |
| Chosŏn'gŭl | 조선민주주의인민공화국 국가종합팀 |
The North Korea national football team (recognized as Korea DPR by FIFA and known colloquially and in the media as North Korea) represents the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in international association football and is controlled by the DPR Korea Football Association, the governing body for football in North Korea.
North Korea surprised with a good showing at their World Cup debut, reaching the quarter-finals in 1966, beating Italy in the group stage. Controversy arose during the 2006 World Cup Qualifiers, when the team's supporters caused problems because of the team'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 four times; in 1980, when they finished fourth, in 1992, 2011 and in 2015. The current team is composed of both native North Koreans and Chongryon-affiliated Koreans born in Japan.
In the 1966 World Cup, North Korea played their matches at Middlesbrough's home ground Ayresome Park, when the team caused an upset, beating Italy 1–0 to gain a spot in the quarter-finals. There, they lost 5–3 to Portugal, despite taking a 3–0 lead after thirty minutes. The North Korea team was the first Asian team to progress beyond the first round of the World Cup finals. In a 1999 documentary featuring interviews with surviving members of the team, they describe themselves as having been welcomed home as national heroes.
...
Wikipedia