North Korea knocked out of 2026 World Cup qualifiers after loss to UAE

North Korea Eliminated from 2026 FIFA World Cup After Defeat to UAE

North Korea’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup officially ended on Wednesday following a dramatic 2-1 defeat against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Riyadh. The loss solidified their last-place position in Group A of the Asian qualifiers, marking their fourth consecutive failure to reach the global tournament.

Last-Minute Heartbreak Ends North Korea’s Campaign

The match saw an early lead for the UAE, with Fabio Lima scoring in the fifth minute. North Korea maintained their hopes of qualifying with a well-placed header from defender Kim Yu Song shortly before halftime. But Sultan Adil’s goal in stoppage time gave the UAE the win and eliminated North Korea from the game.

North Korea stayed at the bottom of Group A with just two points after two draws and six losses, while the UAE rose to 13 points and third position with this victory.

Qualification Hopes Dashed Despite Early Progress

North Korea has advanced to the third round of the Asian qualifiers with a solid showing in the previous round, which included a last-minute triumph over Syria and a resounding 4-1 victory over Myanmar. But in the end, their failure to win any of the games they were playing in the current stage and the fact that they had to forfeit a home game against Japan in March sealed their doom.

FIFA imposed an $11,000 fine on North Korea and awarded Japan a 3-0 victory after the DPRK refused to host their scheduled qualifier in Pyongyang, citing concerns over a virus outbreak in Japan. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) also moved North Korea’s remaining home fixtures against Syria and Myanmar to a neutral venue in Laos.

A Long Absence from the World Cup

North Korea has only qualified for the FIFA World Cup twice, in 1966 and 2010. Their historic 1966 campaign, in which they defeated Italy 1-0 to become the first Asian team to go to the quarterfinals, is still remembered today. Their 2010 campaign was less successful, though, as they lost badly against Ivory Coast, Brazil, and Portugal.

A lost chance for sports diplomacy, considering the ongoing diplomatic tensions between North Korea and the United States, is also represented by the DPRK’s inability to qualify for the 2026 event, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

North Korean Women’s Football Success

While the men’s team continues to struggle on the international stage, North Korea’s women’s football program remains highly successful. The women’s national team has won three AFC Asian Cups and three Asian Games gold medals. North Korea’s supremacy in women’s football is further demonstrated by the recent World Cup victories of its U-20 and U-17 women’s teams in their respective age categories.

North Korea must now focus on reviving its men’s program and getting ready for upcoming international tournaments after being eliminated from the 2026 World Cup.