Football in North Korea
Encyclopedia
Association football in North Korea
is governed by the DPR Korea Football Association
(KFA), which was established in 1945. Due to the state's secrecy, attendances and popularity for club matches in the country are hard to gauge.
, the Korea DPR women's national football team
and the North Korean football league system, including the DPR Korea League
. The body became an AFC
affiliate in 1954 and a FIFA
affiliate in 1958. Its chairman is Mun Jae Chol.
is the highest league in the Korean football league system. Below it comes the DPR K-League 2 and the Amateur DPR K-League 3. The DPR Korea League
consists of three leagues which are played at different times of the year. Due to this and the general unwillingness of the North Korean football system to follow general world player transfer rules due to the political system of the country, the DPR Korea League winners are generally not eligible for any Asian Football Confederation
club competition. Were they eligible they would be ranked for entry into the AFC President's Cup
.
The main cup competition is the DPR Korean Cup
, sometimes known as the Open Cup.
are ranked 110th in the world. They consist of North Koreans and Chongryon
-affiliated Koreans born in Japan
.
They have reached the FIFA World Cup
finals twice; in 1966
and 2010
. In 1966, the team managed to make up for a 3–0 loss to the Soviet Union in the first match of the group stages to qualify for the next round in second. In the quarter-finals, Korea DPR lost 5–3 to Portugal
thanks to four goals from Eusébio
, after being 3–0 up on 25 minutes. In 2010, the North Korea team failed to get past the group stages, finishing bottom of the group and losing all three matches.
consists entirely of North Korea
-born Koreans. It is much more successful than its male counterpart, reaching the quarter-finals of the last Women's World Cup
in 2007
and winning the AFC Women's Asian Cup in 2008
.
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
is governed by the DPR Korea Football Association
DPR Korea Football Association
The DPR Korea Football Association is the governing body of football in North Korea.-Presidents:As of 2010, FIFA's website and the AFC's website list Mun Jae Chol as the association's president; he is also mentioned as such in a report published in November 2008.Earlier presidents apparently...
(KFA), which was established in 1945. Due to the state's secrecy, attendances and popularity for club matches in the country are hard to gauge.
Governing Body
The KFA oversees the Korea DPR national football teamKorea DPR national football team
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea national football team 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...
, the Korea DPR women's national football team
Korea DPR women's national football team
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea women's national football team represents North Korea in international women's football. North Korea were the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship winners, and won the AFC Women's Asian Cup in 2001, 2003 and 2008....
and the North Korean football league system, including the DPR Korea League
DPR Korea League
Highest Class Football League is the football league-system championship in North Korea. The competition was founded in 2010....
. The body became an AFC
Asian Football Confederation
The Asian Football Confederation is the governing body of association football in Asia. It has 46 member countries, mostly located on the Asian continent. However, due to the disputed boundary of Europe and Asia, nations such as Russia and Turkey which are located mostly in geographic Asia are...
affiliate in 1954 and a FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
affiliate in 1958. Its chairman is Mun Jae Chol.
Teams and Competitions
The DPR Korea LeagueDPR Korea League
Highest Class Football League is the football league-system championship in North Korea. The competition was founded in 2010....
is the highest league in the Korean football league system. Below it comes the DPR K-League 2 and the Amateur DPR K-League 3. The DPR Korea League
DPR Korea League
Highest Class Football League is the football league-system championship in North Korea. The competition was founded in 2010....
consists of three leagues which are played at different times of the year. Due to this and the general unwillingness of the North Korean football system to follow general world player transfer rules due to the political system of the country, the DPR Korea League winners are generally not eligible for any Asian Football Confederation
Asian Football Confederation
The Asian Football Confederation is the governing body of association football in Asia. It has 46 member countries, mostly located on the Asian continent. However, due to the disputed boundary of Europe and Asia, nations such as Russia and Turkey which are located mostly in geographic Asia are...
club competition. Were they eligible they would be ranked for entry into the AFC President's Cup
AFC President's Cup
The AFC President's Cup is an annual international association football competition between domestic clubs sides run by the Asian Football Confederation .-Competition format:...
.
The main cup competition is the DPR Korean Cup
DPR Korean Cup
Republican Championship is a football knockout cup competition in North Korea. The championship was launched in October, 1972...
, sometimes known as the Open Cup.
Men's national team
The Korea DPR national football teamKorea DPR national football team
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea national football team 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...
are ranked 110th in the world. They consist of North Koreans and Chongryon
Chongryon
The General Association of Korean Residents in Japan , abbreviated to Chongryon The General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chae Ilbon Chosŏnin Ch'ongryŏnhaphoe in Korean or Zai-Nihon Chōsenjin Sōrengōkai in Japanese), abbreviated to Chongryon The General Association of Korean Residents...
-affiliated Koreans born in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
They have reached the FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
finals twice; in 1966
1966 FIFA World Cup
The 1966 FIFA World Cup, the eighth staging of the World Cup, was held in England from 11 July to 30 July. England beat West Germany 4–2 in the final, winning the World Cup for the first time, so becoming the first host to win the tournament since Italy in 1934.-Host selection:England was chosen as...
and 2010
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
. In 1966, the team managed to make up for a 3–0 loss to the Soviet Union in the first match of the group stages to qualify for the next round in second. In the quarter-finals, Korea DPR lost 5–3 to Portugal
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
thanks to four goals from Eusébio
Eusébio
Eusébio da Silva Ferreira, GCIH, GCM , commonly known simply as Eusébio, is a retired Mozambican-born Portuguese football forward. He is considered one of the best footballers of all-time by the IFFHS, experts and fans...
, after being 3–0 up on 25 minutes. In 2010, the North Korea team failed to get past the group stages, finishing bottom of the group and losing all three matches.
Women's national team
Unlike the men's team, the women's squadKorea DPR women's national football team
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea women's national football team represents North Korea in international women's football. North Korea were the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship winners, and won the AFC Women's Asian Cup in 2001, 2003 and 2008....
consists entirely of North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
-born Koreans. It is much more successful than its male counterpart, reaching the quarter-finals of the last Women's World Cup
FIFA Women's World Cup
The FIFA Women's World Cup is an international association football competition contested by the senior women's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body. The championship has been awarded every four years since the...
in 2007
FIFA Women's World Cup 2007
The FIFA Women's World Cup 2007 was an international association football competition for women held in China from September 10, 2007 – September 30, 2007. Originally, China was to host the 2003 Women's World Cup, but the outbreak of SARS in that country forced that event to be moved to the United...
and winning the AFC Women's Asian Cup in 2008
2008 AFC Women's Asian Cup
-Group B:---------------------Knockout Map:-Semi final:-----Third place playoff:-Final:-See also:*AFC Women's Asian Cup*Asian Football Confederation*Women's football...
.
See also
- Sport in North KoreaSport in North KoreaNorth Korea has a blend of both traditional and western sports in which the country participates.-Arirang:Perhaps the most well known sporting event in North Korea is the annual Arirang Festival, held at Rungrado May Day Stadium in Pyongyang on April 15 of every year in celebration of the birthdate...
- Korea DPR national football teamKorea DPR national football teamThe Democratic People's Republic of Korea national football team 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...
- Korea DPR women's national football teamKorea DPR women's national football teamThe Democratic People's Republic of Korea women's national football team represents North Korea in international women's football. North Korea were the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship winners, and won the AFC Women's Asian Cup in 2001, 2003 and 2008....
- DPR Korean CupDPR Korean CupRepublican Championship is a football knockout cup competition in North Korea. The championship was launched in October, 1972...
- DPR Korea LeagueDPR Korea LeagueHighest Class Football League is the football league-system championship in North Korea. The competition was founded in 2010....
External links
- North Korea at the FIFA website.
- North Korea at the AFC website.