North Korea falls 0-1 to Uzbekistan to start 3rd round of World Cup Asian qualifiers

UPDATED on September 5, 2024 at 10:58 p.m. ET 

The North Korean men’s national soccer team stumbled in its first match in the third round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a loss to Uzbekistan 0-1 in Tashkent.

Uzbekistan scored in the 20th minute when Jaloliddin Masharipov received a cutback pass from Sherzod Nasrullaev and sent the ball past goalkeeper Kang Ju Hyok into the upper left corner of the goal.  

The North Korean team, nicknamed the Chollima by supporters after a mythical horse, came up empty with four shots on goal for the night. 

With the loss, North Korea is tied in Group A for fourth place with Kyrgyzstan, which also lost 0-1 to Iran. The United Arab Emirates defeated Qatar 3-1, and now leads the group after one match.

In Group B, Asian juggernaut South Korea played to a surprising 0-0 draw with Palestine, while in Group C, Japan thumped China 7-0.

The teams are playing for spots in the 2026 World Cup, to be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

North Korea has played in two World Cups, in 1966 and 2010, losing in the quarterfinals in 1966.

The Chollima will next face Qatar in a home match in Vientiane, Laos on Sep. 10.

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Missing logos

Chinese sportswear maker Inlang Sports posted on social media last week that the Chollima would wear uniforms bearing the company’s logo starting in the third round of qualifying, but the logo was notably absent from the North Korean players’ away red jerseys and shorts with the exception of the black-clad goalkeeper.  

The social media post featured photos of forward Han Kwang Song and midfielder Ri Il Song wearing home white jerseys with the Inlang logo on the right breast opposite the North Korean national flag. 

The team did wear Inlang training gear during the pre-match press conference, however.

RFA reported on Wednesday that the sponsorship between Inlang and the Chollima might constitute sanctions violations.

Additional reporting by Park Jaewoo for RFA Korean.

Update adds information about the next match.