The DPRK team, belonging to Group B for the second round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Zone Qualifiers, beat its Syrian and Myanmar rivals 1:0 and 4:1 in the second matches held in Laos on June 6 and 11.

They were greeted at Pyongyang International Airport on June 15 by Sin Yong Chol, secretary of the DPRK Football Association, and other sports officials and families.