| North Korea, who is officially recognized by FIFA as | | | | appealed the matter to FIFA, who when unable to |
| Korea DPR, has made only 1 appearance in the FIFA | | | | mediate an agreement between the two sides, |
| World Cup so far in their history. In that appearance, in | | | | decreed that the game be moved to Shanghai, China. |
| the 1966 tournament held in England, they surprised | | | | The team secured their trip to the 2010 World Cup in |
| many people by beating Italy to gain a spot in the | | | | Johannesburg on June 17th, 2009, one of the first to do |
| quarter finals. | | | | so, with a draw against Saudi Arabia in which both |
| In fact, so extraordinary was that debut appearance | | | | teams failed to score. Their qualifying group was won |
| that it seems hard to understand why the Korea DPR | | | | by close rivals South Korea but they finished ahead of |
| side has ever failed to qualify again until the 2010 | | | | third place Saudi Arabia on goal difference. |
| World Cup (although they did officially qualify in 1976 | | | | The team is comprised of players who are both native |
| but the team was withdrawn for political reasons). | | | | North Koreans and Zanichi Koreans, players who |
| So charged still are the political relations between North | | | | were actually born in Japan. They all play in North |
| and South Korea to this day that FIFA had to step in | | | | Korea, except Jong Tae - Se, who is the star of |
| and change the venue of their qualifying match in | | | | Japanese J League team Kawasaki Frontale. |
| March 2008. The match was to have been played in | | | | Whenever he speaks to the sports media worldwide, |
| North Korea, and they refused to allow the South | | | | current team manger Kim Jong Hun makes no secret |
| Koreans to either display their flag or sing their national | | | | of the fact that the team from 1966 are his continual |
| anthem prior to the game as is traditional. South Korea | | | | inspiration, and it his intention to eclipse that feat. |