In the pre-tournament FIFA tournament, North Korea lost their world ranking due to a long absence and were ranked as the weakest fifth slot in the group. However, they miraculously overcame two West Asian powerhouses in the first round of the tournament in three consecutive matches to secure their place at the top of the table.
Although the DPRK have one more match against Jordan yet to start, given that the other three teams - Hong Kong, China, Iran and Syria - are currently on just three points, they have a theoretical chance of tying the DPRK despite having two matches in hand, but in the event of a tie on points, they will be judged on the basis of their mutual records. North Korea are firmly locked out of the group with a record they have already beaten, which is certainly an impressive feat.
The DPRK women's soccer team has had a remarkable run since its return to international soccer. They won the Women's World Youth Championship in the past and have now managed to reach the last eight in the U17 Women's World Cup. Despite their lesser success in men's soccer, they have managed to win against strong teams such as Iran, and are in the spotlight for making it to the Round of 18 in the World Qualifying Tournament.
North Korean soccer has once again shown the world the unique charm of the sport. While advanced soccer concepts, tactics and high-level matches are crucial to improving the level of soccer, perseverance and hard training can also help the team show its strength. Although the DPRK team's closed training and lack of professional tournament experience may limit their potential, they are still in the top tier in Asia, where the overall level of soccer has yet to improve.
