On Tuesday, at the New Laos National Stadium in Vientiane, Laos, Korea DPR will face Uzbekistan in Matchday 6 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers.
This third round clash is crucial for Uzbekistan as they aim to maintain their second-place position in Group A, staying ahead of both UAE and Qatar. Uzbekistan has garnered 10 points from 5 matches, comprising 3 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss. Their first defeat in 9 games came at the hands of Qatar last week. Iran leads Group A with 13 points, remaining unbeaten with 4 wins and 1 draw in 5 matches.
Uzbekistan’s quest for a top 2 spot is still on track, but a loss to North Korea could significantly dampen their ambitions.
Korea DPR has struggled in the qualifiers, failing to secure a victory in their 5 matches. They currently hold 2 points, drawn from two draws and three losses, with their latest defeat being a 3-2 match against Iran.
Though it’s improbable for North Korea to secure a top 2 finish, they are not yet mathematically eliminated. To keep their slim hopes alive, they need a victory on the 19th against a well-performing Uzbekistan squad.
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan has had a relatively smooth journey in the qualifiers, facing their first significant challenge last week against Qatar at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. They commenced the qualifiers with a 1-0 win over Korea DPR, followed by a 3-2 victory against Kyrgyzstan, which propelled them to the top of the standings.
They subsequently played to a goalless stalemate against Iran before facing UAE, whom they defeated 1-0 on home turf. Their most recent clash was with Qatar, marking their first defeat after maintaining an 8-game unbeaten run. The match concluded at 3-2 despite Abbosbek Fayzullaev’s outstanding performance, in which he scored twice. Particularly devastating was the loss, considering Uzbekistan had leveled the score at 2-2 in the 80th minute after trailing 2-0 by the 41st minute. Unfortunately, a stoppage-time goal resulted in a heartbreaking loss.
Uzbekistan’s away performance has been noteworthy, boasting 7 wins, 2 draws, and only 2 losses in their last 11 away games.
Korea DPR
North Korea had ambitious expectations for the qualifiers but has come up short so far. They began with a 1-0 defeat to Uzbekistan, followed by a 2-2 draw against Qatar in their second game. After another draw with UAE, they faced two consecutive losses, first to Kyrgyzstan and then to Iran with a close 3-2 score on November 14th.
Their subpar form extends beyond the current qualifiers, with seven defeats in their last 13 matches, managing only three victories and three draws. However, their home record offers some optimism heading into Tuesday; prior to their most recent home loss, they had captured 3 wins and 2 draws in five matches.
Korea DPR Vs Uzbekistan Head-to-Head and Predictions
In their initial qualifier matchup on September 5th, Uzbekistan narrowly triumphed with a 1-0 scoreline. Historically, across 11 encounters, Korea DPR has only managed one win, while Uzbekistan has secured 8 victories.
Uzbekistan hold the 58th position in the FIFA World Rankings, while Korea DPR find themselves at 111th.
Considering the past encounters and the present performance levels, Uzbekistan is anticipated to secure a straightforward victory. Nevertheless, North Korea’s tenacity suggests that the match could remain competitive up to halftime. We foresee Uzbekistan triumphing with a 2-0 scoreline.
