North Korea’s hopes of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup came to an end on Wednesday, as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in stoppage time.

Guided by former South Korea national team manager Paulo Bento, the UAE secured a dramatic victory at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during the eighth match of the third round of Asia’s Group A qualifiers.

Match Overview

The UAE took an early lead in the fifth minute, with Fabio Lima finding the net. However, North Korea equalised just before half-time in the 44th minute, as Kim Yu-song scored with a header. Despite their efforts, North Korea were unable to hold on, and Sultan Adil netted a late winner for the UAE in stoppage time.

This result secured a fourth victory for the UAE in this phase of qualification, bringing their points tally to 13 and reinforcing their third-place position in the group. North Korea, meanwhile, remained winless, having collected just two points from two draws and six defeats, leaving them bottom of the standings.

North Korea’s World Cup Hopes Extinguished

The defeat confirmed North Korea’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking their fourth consecutive elimination from the competition.

In the third round of Asian qualification, the top two teams from each group automatically secure a place at the World Cup. As it stands, Iran leads Group A with 20 points, followed by Uzbekistan with 17 points. The teams finishing third and fourth proceed to intercontinental play-offs, while the fifth and sixth-placed sides are eliminated.

Even if North Korea were to win their remaining two matches, their maximum possible total of eight points would be insufficient to catch fourth-placed Qatar, who currently have 10 points.

Path to the Third Round and Controversies

North Korea advanced to the third round of World Cup qualification in June 2024, following a decisive 4-1 victory over Myanmar and a crucial last-minute win against Syria. They finished second in Group B with nine points, behind Japan, who secured a perfect 18-point record.

However, North Korea’s campaign was marred by controversies. Their refusal to play home matches in Pyongyang severely hindered their qualification chances.

In March 2024, North Korea abruptly cancelled a scheduled home qualifier just days before the match, following a 1-0 first-leg defeat to Japan in Tokyo. The DPRK authorities cited concerns over a virus outbreak in Japan.

As a result, FIFA imposed an $11,000 fine on North Korea and awarded Japan a 3-0 victory for the cancelled fixture. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) also relocated North Korea’s remaining home fixtures against Syria and Myanmar to Laos, reportedly due to ongoing health restrictions and limited international flights.

North Korea’s World Cup History

North Korea has only qualified twice for the FIFA World Cup, in 1966 and 2010.

Their 1966 campaign remains their most celebrated achievement, as they became the first Asian team to reach the quarter-finals, famously defeating Italy 1-0 in a victory that is still commemorated in North Korea.

In contrast, their 2010 World Cup campaign ended in disappointment, with North Korea suffering three consecutive defeats against Brazil, Portugal, and the Ivory Coast.

Their absence from the 2026 tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, represents a missed opportunity for potential sports diplomacy with the United States, amid ongoing political tensions.

Success of North Korean Women’s Football

Unlike the men’s team, North Korea’s women’s football has achieved significant success on the international stage.

The women’s team has won three AFC Women’s Asian Cups, three Asian Games gold medals, and reached the quarter-finals of the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The North Korean U-20 women’s team recently secured their third World Cup title in September 2024, defeating Japan. Meanwhile, the U-17 women’s side won their age-group World Cup in November, overcoming Spain in a penalty shootout.

Despite the men’s struggles, North Korean football continues to see success through its youth and women’s teams, ensuring the country remains competitive in the global football landscape.