How they got there: Round 2 Group B runners-up

2022 AFC Asian Qualifiers Record: Withdrew due to COVID-19 pandemic

Previous FIFA World Cup appearances: 2

Head Coach: Sin Yong Nam (PRK)

Fun Fact: DPR Korea made it to the quarter-finals in their FIFA World Cup debut in 1966.

Having achieved a second appearance by reaching the 2010 FIFA World Cup, DPR Korea failed to progress through the qualification stage for the Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018 editions.

A tough draw saw DPR Korea placed in Group C of Round 3 of the 2014 qualifiers, with the East Asian side eventually finishing third behind Uzbekistan and Japan.

Having opened their campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Japan, DPR Korea bounced back to beat Tajikistan 1-0 but back-to-back defeats to Uzbekistan were to cost them dearly in the 2014 Qualifiers.

A 1-0 win over Japan and a 1-1 stalemate with Tajikistan followed the defeats against Uzbekistan, with DPR Korea eventually finishing three points behind Japan.

It was another tough outing in the 2018 Qualifiers as DPR Korea made their exit in Round 2, with Uzbekistan again in their group.

Despite victories over Yemen (twice), Bahrain (twice) and Uzbekistan, DPR Korea were left counting the cost of only picking up a point in two matches against the Philippines, with their runners-up finish not enough to advance as one of the four best second-placed sides.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced DPR Korea to withdraw midway through the Qatar 2022 Qualifiers and the East Asian will be determined to go through this time, after overcoming a slow start to book their spot in the third round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2026.