North Korea National Football Team

North Korea's National Football Team Set to Return to International Play

Return After Four-Year Hiatus

Team to Host Japan in Pyongyang for 2026 World Cup Qualifier

The North Korean men's national football team is set to return to the international stage next week, nearly four years after the country shut its borders and withdrew from all competition.

The team will host Japan in Pyongyang for a 2026 World Cup qualifier on March 26, the Japanese Football Association announced Monday. This will be the first time the North Koreans have played in Pyongyang in more than four years.

North Korea's last competitive fixture was in the 2022 World Cup Asia qualifiers at the end of 2019. The team has not played a single match since then due to the country's strict border controls amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The return of the North Korean team to international play will be a welcome sight for fans of the game. The team has a rich history, having qualified for the World Cup finals in 2010 and reaching the quarterfinals of the AFC Asian Cup in 2011.

It remains to be seen how competitive the North Koreans will be after such a long layoff. However, the team is sure to be motivated to make a good impression on its return to the international stage.