Background and career
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) 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. It has been a member of FIFA since 1958 and a member of AFC since 1974.
North Korea’s national team made its FIFA World Cup debut in 1966, reaching the quarter-finals and defeating Italy in the group stage, becoming the first Asian team to advance beyond the group stage. During the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, controversy arose when the team's supporters rioted over the team's failure to qualify, interfering with the opposing team’s exit from the stadium. In 2009, the team secured qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, marking its second World Cup appearance in their history. North Korea has qualified for the AFC Asian Cup six times; finishing fourth in 1980, and appearing in 1992, 2011, in 2015, and in 2019. The current squad includes both native North Koreans and Japanese Zainichi Koreans.
