North Korea is one of several teams that has yet to claim a victory over Iran’s national football team, Team Melli. From their first encounter in the 1972 Olympic Games qualifiers to their most recent clash in the 2011 Asian Cup, where Iran secured a narrow 1-0 win in Doha, North Korea has persistently fallen short of a win against Iran. Yet, while the record on paper suggests Iranian dominance, the reality on the field has often been much closer.
North Korea has consistently proven to be a challenging opponent, with a physically resilient and fast-paced style of play that has tested Iran in every encounter. Unlike some teams, North Korea is not easily intimidated by Team Melli’s reputation or tactical style. Many of their matches have been closely contested, reflecting the competitive edge and defensive rigor North Korea brings to the pitch.
After a period of decline, North Korea’s recent resurgence has seen improvements in both their tactics and results. Reaching this stage of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers underscores their determination, resilience, and growing strength as a team. Although in the 4 matches played , they currently have only two points from two draws in the group stage, their games have been tight battles, marked by near-misses and moments of unluckiness. In particular, their matches against Uzbekistan and the UAE were impacted by missed penalty opportunities, which might have shifted their standing.
On Thursday in Vientiane, Laos, which North Korea elected as their home base, the match will be another tight battle.
STANDING TABLE
Below is a detailed look at the historical match records between Iran and North Korea, providing a deeper insight into this intriguing rivalry.
Matches List
| # | Match Date | Match Type | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1972-05-04 | Olympics Qualifier | Korea DPR | 0-0 | D |
| 2 | 1972-05-30 | Olympics Qualifier | Korea DPR | 0-0 | D |
| 3 | 1972-06-01 | Olympics Qualifier | Korea DPR | 2-0 | W |
| 4 | 1973-05-04 | World Cup Qualifier | Korea DPR | 0-0 | D |
| 5 | 1973-05-11 | World Cup Qualifier | Korea DPR | 2-1 | W |
| 6 | 1980-02-25 | Olympics Qualifier | Korea DPR | 0-0 | D |
| 7 | 1980-09-24 | Asian Cup | Korea DPR | 3-2 | W |
| 8 | 1980-09-29 | Asian Cup | Korea DPR | 3-0 | W |
| 9 | 1985-02-05 | Friendly | Korea DPR | 1-0 | W |
| 10 | 1988-06-02 | Asian Cup Qualifier | Korea DPR | 0-0 | D |
| 11 | 1990-09-28 | Asian Games | Korea DPR | 2-1 | W |
| 12 | 1990-10-06 | Asian Games | Korea DPR | 0-0 | D |
| 13 | 1992-10-30 | Asian Cup | Korea DPR | 2-0 | W |
| 14 | 1993-10-25 | World Cup Qualifier | Korea DPR | 2-1 | W |
| 15 | 2003-10-27 | Asian Cup Qualifier | Korea DPR | 3-1 | W |
| 16 | 2003-11-12 | Asian Cup Qualifier | Korea DPR | 1-0 | W |
| 17 | 2005-03-30 | World Cup Qualifier | Korea DPR | 2-0 | W |
| 18 | 2005-06-03 | World Cup Qualifier | Korea DPR | 1-0 | W |
| 19 | 2008-10-15 | World Cup Qualifier | Korea DPR | 2-1 | W |
| 20 | 2009-06-06 | World Cup Qualifier | Korea DPR | 0-0 | D |
| 21 | 2010-01-02 | Friendly | Korea DPR | 1-0 | W |
| 22 | 2011-01-15 | Asian Cup | Korea DPR | 1-0 | W |
Match Summary
| MP: | 22 |
| Wins (W): | 15 |
| Draws (D): | 7 |
| Losses (L): | 0 |
| Goals For (GF): | 28 |
| (GA): | 7 |
| Goal Difference (GD): | 21 |
Goal Scorers
- Ali DAEI – 3 goals
- Mehdi MAHDAVIKIA – 2 goals
- Javad NEKOUNAM – 2 goals
- Mohammad Ali KARIMI – 2 goals
- Farshad PEYOUS – 2 goals
- Hossein FARAKI – 2 goals
- Behtash FARIBA – 2 goals
- Rahman REZAEI – 1 goals
- Moharam NAVIDKIA – 1 goals
- Sirous GHAYEGHRAN – 1 goals
- Shahroukh BAYANI – 1 goals
- Shahin BAYANI – 1 goals
- Hamid ALIDOUSTI – 1 goals
- Iraj DANAEIFARD – 1 goals
- Mehdi MONAJATI – 1 goals
- Mohammad SADEGHI – 1 goals
- Hossein KALANI – 1 goals
- Safar IRANPAK – 1 goals
- Mehrzad MADANCHI – 1 goals
- Karim ANSARIFARD – 1 goals