Love the video! Always love a video talking about North Korean football. These are just my few thoughts as an avid fan for the country's football. While I'm not too sure about back then, in modern day, April 25 and February 8 are separate entities run under the same administration. They both have played as separate clubs in the many cup competitions hosted in the country. April 25 also isn't the only North Korean club to have played continentally. Chadongja in the 80s-90s played in a continental campaign, Kigwancha in 2017 AFC Cup, Hwaebul in 2018, and Ryomyong in the 2019 AFC Cup qualifiers. While most may assume North Korea plays with strictly team effort, there have been several players who have shown individualism and flair. Players like Kim Kuk Jin and Ri Il Song for the men's team, and Choe Il Son at U20 and U17 Women's level. During his youth years, Jong Il Gwan singlehandedly won his nation the AFC U19 Championship with one of his goals in a hattrick being a tremendous solo goal. During the U20 World Cup knockouts, North Korea were helped a lot by individual effort from Choe Il Son and Chae Un Yong. North Korean football also seems to be modernising. A few years ago, it felt like the team had equipment and tactics of decades ago. No sponsorships, no apparel, no fashion wear on the pitch. Now, North Korea signed a deal with Chinese brand Inlang that helps in sports medicine and apparel. Players are more keen to wear wrist tape and cut their socks. Boots and goalkeeper gloves are more modern than before. Tactics are fresh and so is North Korea's playstyle. In my opinion, these players have been the shining gems in their Road to 26 sofar: Kang Ju Hyok - The second reason their WCQ hopes were kept alive when they faced Syria needing a win to stay out of elimination when he made two outstanding saves. Kept Japan at bay in their 1-0 defeat in Tokyo where even Japanese netizens said he was better than theirs Zion Suzuki. Choe Ok Chol and Paek Chung Sung - Operating on the flanks, these two have provided brilliant attacking threat through their runs and crosses. Paek also has no worries in taking his man one on one Jong Il Gwan - Despite being a substitute nowadays, he's still the best player in the squad, scoring five goals in very limited minutes for the country. His experience and natural talent has still yet to been met by any of the other players in the squad. The all time top scorer has been excelling everytime he comes on the pitch!
Thanks for the insights! I was trying to piece together the relationship between April 25 and February 8 for a while and my only conclusion was that they must have changed the name and then back again at some stage, but your explanation makes way more sense! Thanks for the breakdown of the players that's fascinating. How do you see them fairing in qualification, and if, big if, they do make it to the USA for 2026?
@@SAMUTHESAMBABALL It's not so accurate but Wikipedia said they were founded in different years as different identities. North Korea at first had a shot at qualifying but have just been wasteful. Missing penalties against Uzbekistan and UAE resulted in losing points, a draw with Qatar could've been a win had Jang Kuk Chol not gotten sent off, and losing to bottom place Kyrgyzstan has really hampered their chances. With Iran as the next game, it looks very bleak but qualification to Round 4 is still very plausible. As for '26, they have a chance at being dark horses but we said the same about Qatar. It depends if their players are able to fill the boots of Jong Il Gwan who most likely will retire by then. Fun fact but April 25 is no longer the dominant force. The national team only has two players from that team - Han Kwang Song and Sin Tae Song. The latter being the third choice national keeper. Ryomyong makes up majority of the team including Jong Il Gwan. They recently won both the league and the domestic cup.
@@SAMUTHESAMBABALL Unfortunately it's impossible to watch the domestic league if you're not in North Korea. Though there are news outlets that give updates, albeit limited and scarce, on the league. There were updates on results up til 2019 but since then they stopped updating the league results altogether.
It seems like DPRK succeeded, mainly in women's, because they poured resources with constant state support. Women's football, unlike men's, is far less developed, allowing North Korea to exert greater domination. Still, they can't achieve much in the senior level. These young North Korean talents are stifled from going out, and their national teams have stagnated in both genders. It is why their successes are stuck in the youth level, but not the senior ones.
You have to say though, any participation from North Korea in football is an achievement in itself. The fact that they are taking part in qualification for any international tournaments is a miracle. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the video! I would have liked some more info on the womens team, they have been high in the FIFA ranking for a long time. It's interesting to see how they have done well in the womens game
I'm surprised you did NOT talk more about NK's U20 and U17 teams, which have had WAY more success internationally, especially the women's teams this year. How is it that they're dominating but not the senior teams or even men's teams?
Its definitely a big part of it. But the final hurdle is keeping up with the development of football around the world. Something that's only made more difficult when you're an isolated nation that keeps outside influence to a minimum.
@@SAMUTHESAMBABALL totally fine if you call me or my opinion backwards. but i dont watch football anymore. i dont think the way they play today is attractive. its morel ike science and tactics how to ruin actual football on the field.
Really well made and very interesting mate. Thank you.
Thanks for watching another one! 💪
Love the video! Always love a video talking about North Korean football. These are just my few thoughts as an avid fan for the country's football.
While I'm not too sure about back then, in modern day, April 25 and February 8 are separate entities run under the same administration. They both have played as separate clubs in the many cup competitions hosted in the country.
April 25 also isn't the only North Korean club to have played continentally. Chadongja in the 80s-90s played in a continental campaign, Kigwancha in 2017 AFC Cup, Hwaebul in 2018, and Ryomyong in the 2019 AFC Cup qualifiers.
While most may assume North Korea plays with strictly team effort, there have been several players who have shown individualism and flair. Players like Kim Kuk Jin and Ri Il Song for the men's team, and Choe Il Son at U20 and U17 Women's level. During his youth years, Jong Il Gwan singlehandedly won his nation the AFC U19 Championship with one of his goals in a hattrick being a tremendous solo goal. During the U20 World Cup knockouts, North Korea were helped a lot by individual effort from Choe Il Son and Chae Un Yong.
North Korean football also seems to be modernising. A few years ago, it felt like the team had equipment and tactics of decades ago. No sponsorships, no apparel, no fashion wear on the pitch. Now, North Korea signed a deal with Chinese brand Inlang that helps in sports medicine and apparel. Players are more keen to wear wrist tape and cut their socks. Boots and goalkeeper gloves are more modern than before. Tactics are fresh and so is North Korea's playstyle.
In my opinion, these players have been the shining gems in their Road to 26 sofar:
Kang Ju Hyok - The second reason their WCQ hopes were kept alive when they faced Syria needing a win to stay out of elimination when he made two outstanding saves. Kept Japan at bay in their 1-0 defeat in Tokyo where even Japanese netizens said he was better than theirs Zion Suzuki.
Choe Ok Chol and Paek Chung Sung - Operating on the flanks, these two have provided brilliant attacking threat through their runs and crosses. Paek also has no worries in taking his man one on one
Jong Il Gwan - Despite being a substitute nowadays, he's still the best player in the squad, scoring five goals in very limited minutes for the country. His experience and natural talent has still yet to been met by any of the other players in the squad. The all time top scorer has been excelling everytime he comes on the pitch!
Thanks for the insights! I was trying to piece together the relationship between April 25 and February 8 for a while and my only conclusion was that they must have changed the name and then back again at some stage, but your explanation makes way more sense! Thanks for the breakdown of the players that's fascinating. How do you see them fairing in qualification, and if, big if, they do make it to the USA for 2026?
@@SAMUTHESAMBABALL It's not so accurate but Wikipedia said they were founded in different years as different identities.
North Korea at first had a shot at qualifying but have just been wasteful. Missing penalties against Uzbekistan and UAE resulted in losing points, a draw with Qatar could've been a win had Jang Kuk Chol not gotten sent off, and losing to bottom place Kyrgyzstan has really hampered their chances. With Iran as the next game, it looks very bleak but qualification to Round 4 is still very plausible.
As for '26, they have a chance at being dark horses but we said the same about Qatar. It depends if their players are able to fill the boots of Jong Il Gwan who most likely will retire by then.
Fun fact but April 25 is no longer the dominant force. The national team only has two players from that team - Han Kwang Song and Sin Tae Song. The latter being the third choice national keeper.
Ryomyong makes up majority of the team including Jong Il Gwan. They recently won both the league and the domestic cup.
Awesome, do you watch the domestic league games live? How do you keep up with the results?
@@SAMUTHESAMBABALL Unfortunately it's impossible to watch the domestic league if you're not in North Korea. Though there are news outlets that give updates, albeit limited and scarce, on the league. There were updates on results up til 2019 but since then they stopped updating the league results altogether.
It seems like DPRK succeeded, mainly in women's, because they poured resources with constant state support. Women's football, unlike men's, is far less developed, allowing North Korea to exert greater domination.
Still, they can't achieve much in the senior level. These young North Korean talents are stifled from going out, and their national teams have stagnated in both genders. It is why their successes are stuck in the youth level, but not the senior ones.
You have to say though, any participation from North Korea in football is an achievement in itself. The fact that they are taking part in qualification for any international tournaments is a miracle. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the video! I would have liked some more info on the womens team, they have been high in the FIFA ranking for a long time. It's interesting to see how they have done well in the womens game
Great effort into the video. Keep them coming. You earned a subscriber
Thanks!
I'm surprised you did NOT talk more about NK's U20 and U17 teams, which have had WAY more success internationally, especially the women's teams this year. How is it that they're dominating but not the senior teams or even men's teams?
They don't develop into great senior players. Isolation is one of the hurdles.
sport is mostly about hard work and discipline. why would a country based on those fundementals not be good at it?
Its definitely a big part of it. But the final hurdle is keeping up with the development of football around the world. Something that's only made more difficult when you're an isolated nation that keeps outside influence to a minimum.
@@SAMUTHESAMBABALL totally fine if you call me or my opinion backwards. but i dont watch football anymore. i dont think the way they play today is attractive. its morel ike science and tactics how to ruin actual football on the field.