# How did North Korea qualify for the world cup finals? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 27, 2010, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-north-korea-qualify-for-the-world-cup-finals/544665 "2010-06-27T03:41:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Wikipedia_Cites)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-north-korea-qualify-for-the-world-cup-finals/544665/1 "2010-06-27T03:41:55Z")
I hope this question wasn’t asked already on here, but how did the People Republic of Korea qualify? I was surprised that even had enough food for the team, much less soccer facilities. And is it true that the regime is only going to show the world cup there (in NK) if the team wins? Are the players who lose going to be imprisoned? Or sacrificed Aztec style for losing? ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-north-korea-qualify-for-the-world-cup-finals/544665/2 "2010-06-27T03:56:37Z")
They finished 2nd in group B of the Asian Football Confederation, finishing ahead of Saudi Arabia on goal differential. South Korea was first, N Korea second, Saudi Arabia third, Iran fourth, and UAE fifth. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-north-korea-qualify-for-the-world-cup-finals/544665/3 "2010-06-27T14:29:54Z")
Seriously dude? Just because there is hunger - even starvation - in NK, doesnt mean they don’t have food. It’s just enough for everyone. But the soccer team can definitely get its. Likewise, facilities are easy if the regime _wants_ you to have them. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-north-korea-qualify-for-the-world-cup-finals/544665/4 "2010-06-27T14:58:44Z")
Dude, there are a few threads on this topic already. Both topics, actually. [Is the North Korean team in danger?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=568026) This thread is still on the main page, by the way. ??? [2010 World Cup Thread(discusses how North Korea qualified)](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=566590) [And here is a news story that states that North Korea showed the Portugal defeat live.](http://sport.stv.tv/fifa-world-cup/countries/north-korea/183845-north-korean-tv-shows-portugal-defeat-live/) To be honest, I almost find it racist that you say they might be sacrificed Aztec style. ---
**Author:** ![blindboyard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindboyard/32/2833_2.png) [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-north-korea-qualify-for-the-world-cup-finals/544665/5 "2010-06-27T17:09:34Z")
Didn’t the Aztecs sacrifice the winners of their ball games? As said above, NK qualified in the same way everyone else did, by finishing high enough in their qualifying competition. A better question would be why didn’t the Asia champions, IRaq, qualify. ---
**Author:** ![markdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@markdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdash)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-north-korea-qualify-for-the-world-cup-finals/544665/6 "2010-06-27T18:12:26Z")
> [@blindboyard](#): > > Didn’t the Aztecs sacrifice the winners of their ball games? > > As said above, NK qualified in the same way everyone else did, by finishing high enough in their qualifying competition. A better question would be why didn’t the Asia champions, IRaq, qualify. Because World Cup qualifying is separate from the Asia championships? ---
**Author:** ![PopeJewish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@PopeJewish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PopeJewish)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-north-korea-qualify-for-the-world-cup-finals/544665/7 "2010-06-28T01:34:55Z")
> [@sassyfras](#): > > And is it true that the regime is only going to show the world cup there (in NK) if the team wins? they actually broadcasted the second game, against Portugal, live. It was unprecedented in NK Broadcast history apparently. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-north-korea-qualify-for-the-world-cup-finals/544665/8 "2010-06-28T02:03:53Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > To be honest, I almost find it racist that you say they might be sacrificed Aztec style. Wouldn’t it be more racist if he asked if the Mexico team would be sacrificed Aztec style? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-north-korea-qualify-for-the-world-cup-finals/544665/9 "2010-06-28T02:05:02Z")
> [@PopeJewish](#): > > they actually broadcasted the second game, against Portugal, live. It was unprecedented in NK Broadcast history apparently. It was mainly historic because it was taking place outside NK. I think they have broadcasted live matches taking place in NK. ---
**Author:** ![Bootis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@Bootis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootis)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-north-korea-qualify-for-the-world-cup-finals/544665/10 "2010-06-28T02:38:56Z")
With France recently being in the news, being warned not to have the government interfere with the soccer team, and the penalty of such being disqualified from competition, I’m wondering now is there any info of how this is monitored in North Korea? Is it truly assumed, or investigated to make sure, the N.K government doesn’t interfere with the team? Or is it presumed they do, and just ignored for them for some reason? ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-north-korea-qualify-for-the-world-cup-finals/544665/11 "2010-06-28T03:09:55Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > Seriously dude? Just because there is hunger - even starvation - in NK, doesnt mean they don’t have food. It’s just enough for everyone. But the soccer team can definitely get its. Likewise, facilities are easy if the regime _wants_ you to have them. That doesn’t mean they will live to play in the next World Cup, though. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-north-korea-qualify-for-the-world-cup-finals/544665/12 "2010-06-28T03:25:19Z")
If Iran had not conceded a bad goal against the hapless United Arab Emirates in NK’s final Asian qualifying round, they would have finished ahead of NK and pushed them into a playoff with Bahrain and, had they won that, New Zealand. Judging by New Zealand’s performance in the Finals I don’t think you would have seen NK beat them. On the other hand, NK was ranked 9th in the Asian qualifying group. To be blunt about it, there aren’t that many good teams in Asia. All they had to do to reach the last round of Asian qualifying was beat Mongolia (ranked 211 in the Elo ratings), and finish ahead of Jordan and Turkmenistan (ranked 72 and 129) in the second. Maybe having a team ranked 82nd in the Elo ratings make the finals isn’t that big of a surprise, when the AFC gets 4 1/2 teams in the World Cup. A disgrace that, really, seeing as South America gets the same number…and only one AFC team reached the round of 16. _Every single South American team is still in the tournament_, with only 12 teams left. Incredible. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-north-korea-qualify-for-the-world-cup-finals/544665/13 "2010-06-28T03:47:12Z")
> [@Duke](#): > > A disgrace that, really, seeing as South America gets the same number…and only one AFC team reached the round of 16. South Korea and Japan made it, and Australia missed out on goal differential. Not a bad performance at all. UEFA were the ones who shit the bed. ---
**Author:** ![No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Wikipedia_Cites)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-north-korea-qualify-for-the-world-cup-finals/544665/14 "2010-06-28T04:01:40Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Dude, there are a few threads on this topic already. Both topics, actually. > > [Is the North Korean team in danger?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=568026) This thread is still on the main page, by the way. ??? > > [2010 World Cup Thread(discusses how North Korea qualified)](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=566590) > > [And here is a news story that states that North Korea showed the Portugal defeat live.](http://sport.stv.tv/fifa-world-cup/countries/north-korea/183845-north-korean-tv-shows-portugal-defeat-live/) > > To be honest, I almost find it racist that you say they might be sacrificed Aztec style. Am I a surfer? And there is no titled thread that you referred to that would signify that it addresses my main question of how they qualified. To be honest, I almost find it completely ignorant that you are both oblivious to the historical facts of the Aztecs, and that you think my mentioning of it is some kind of moral crime. As if it were criticism, and if it were, it could not be mentioned? Dear Lord, what a weak and self-indulgent insult you have insinuated against me. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-north-korea-qualify-for-the-world-cup-finals/544665/15 "2010-06-28T11:27:05Z")
I’m puzzled as to why there is so much intrigue about North Korea playing football. They have a full domestic football league. Saying things like “I’m surprised they even have food for their team” is just ridiculous. Yes it’s a commmunist country, that doesn’t mean it’s in the Stone Age. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-north-korea-qualify-for-the-world-cup-finals/544665/16 "2010-06-28T12:10:22Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > South Korea and Japan made it, and Australia missed out on goal differential. Not a bad performance at all. UEFA were the ones who shit the bed. Ah, my mistake. 'Course, after those three it’s a long way down in the AFC. Bahrain was seeded 6th for the AFC qualifiers, and had an Elo rating somewhere in the low 60s. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-north-korea-qualify-for-the-world-cup-finals/544665/17 "2010-06-28T12:13:35Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > I’m puzzled as to why there is so much intrigue about North Korea playing football. They have a full domestic football league. …that’s so secretive there have been recent years in which the winning team’s name hasn’t even been released, let alone a full league table or list of results. NK domestic clubs are not eligible for continental club championships precisely because the football association releases so little information about its transfer rules, or indeed anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-north-korea-qualify-for-the-world-cup-finals/544665/18 "2010-06-28T17:17:18Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > To be honest, I almost find it racist that you say they might be sacrificed Aztec style. What does the fact that the country has a psychopathic dictator who is more than capable of having the team killed if it fits his whim running the show have to do with race? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-north-korea-qualify-for-the-world-cup-finals/544665/19 "2010-06-28T19:36:38Z")
Sassyfras, I was clearly wrong and I honestly and genuinely apologize for my mistake. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2010, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-north-korea-qualify-for-the-world-cup-finals/544665/20 "2010-07-05T04:45:32Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > I’m puzzled as to why there is so much intrigue about North Korea playing football. They have a full domestic football league. Saying things like “I’m surprised they even have food for their team” is just ridiculous. Yes it’s a commmunist country, that doesn’t mean it’s in the Stone Age. Considering that electricity is only marginally available, Middle Age? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-north-korea-qualify-for-the-world-cup-finals/544665.md?page=2)