World Cup Qualifying - Asia | Gameweek 10

Jun 10, 2025 at 5pm UK

Iran vs North Korea

Match preview

Thanks to their flying start to the World Cup qualifiers — winning six and drawing one of the opening seven matches — Iran quickly secured their place in next year's tournament in North America.

However, Amir Ghalenoei's team have since slowed down, earning just one point from the next six available after losing 1-0 to Qatar on Thursday — their first loss of the qualifying campaign.

However, Team Melli certainly tried their best, putting in a decent performance, but ultimately succumbing to Pedro Miguel's opener four minutes before half-time at the Jassin Bin Hamad Stadium.

A win last time out would have confirmed Iran's status as Group A winners, and they now need to beat North Korea in their next match to avoid being overtaken by Uzbekistan, who are just two points behind.

Despite their recent failure to score, only Japan (24) and Qatar (17) have scored more goals than Iran's 16. Therefore, Tuesday's hosts will be aiming to put on another impressive performance in front of their home fans, having scored 14 and conceded 3 in their last six matches.

Having only just managed to scrape through to the third round of qualifiers by finishing second in Group D with nine points from six matches, North Korea were always going to struggle in their quest for a first World Cup appearance since 2010.

Sin Yong-nam's team lost their opening third-round match against Uzbekistan 1–0, setting the tone for the rest of the tournament as they went on to lose five of their next eight matches, earning just three points from draws.

Alongside Kuwait, Chollima are one of two teams without a win in the latest phase of the qualifiers. Their last competitive victory came against Myanmar just under a year ago. However, they did go six games unbeaten in friendlies between January and March earlier this year.

Having conceded an astonishing 18 goals in their nine matches so far, North Korea have often been their own worst enemies and cannot complain about what has undoubtedly been a disastrous campaign.

Tuesday's visitors will now hope to end their losing streak in their final match, but given their poor record against the hosts — who are unbeaten in the last 13 meetings across all competitions since 1973 — North Korea definitely have it all to do.

Recent Performance

Iran World Cup Qualifying - Asia form:WWWDL

North Korea World Cup Qualifying - Asia form:LLLLD

Team News

Iran's Milad Mohammadi received two yellow cards within two minutes of each other against Qatar and will not be available to play in Tuesday's match.

With Mohammadi absent, Ali Nemati is expected to start at left-back, with Saleh Hardani on the opposite side of Shoja Khalilzadeh and Aref Aghasi in central defence.

Jin Hyok Kim, Kuk-chol Kang II and Kwang-hun Pak are all doubtful to play for North Korea here after sustaining injuries against Kyrgyzstan on Thursday.

Kye Tak came on as a substitute to good effect in the aforementioned game, replacing Kang just past the midway point of the first half. The 24-year-old is expected to start this time.

Possible starting lineup

Iran possible starting lineup:

Beiranvand; Nemati, Khalilzadeh, Aghasi, Hardani; Karimi, Ezatolahi; Mohebi, Hosseinzadeh, Alipourghara; Taremi

North Korea possible starting lineup:

Hyok; Sung-Hye, Song, Jang, Ryong II; Paek, Tam, Ro, I Ri; J Ri, Jong