Iran's U20 national team lost to North Korea in an AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 qualifier. The match, played on September 4, 2026 in Viet Tri, ended 2-1 in favor of the North Koreans.
Mohammadmahdi Jannianavaei put Iran ahead in the 47th minute, but DPR Korea struck twice in stoppage time through Kang Wi Song and Kang Myong Bom to snatch victory. The defeat leaves Iran's U20s with three points in third place in Group C, while North Korea top the group with six. This match report was filed by Tehran Times Sport.
What is the status of Iran's senior national team?
This youth team loss comes as Iran's senior national team maintains a solid, if unspectacular, position in their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. They currently sit third in their group with three points from three matches. Their record reads zero wins, three draws, and zero losses. Iran has scored three goals and conceded three, resulting in a zero goal difference. They trail group leaders Belgium by just two points.
Iran's recent form shows resilience, as they are unbeaten in their last five matches. Their most recent result was a 1-1 draw against Egypt on June 27, 2026. The full group standings are available on our standings page.
What happened in the qualifier match?
Iran started the match strongly and were rewarded early in the second half. Jannianavaei found the net following a well-worked team move. However, the North Korean side refused to give up and pressed until the final whistle. Kang Wi Song leveled the score with a 92nd-minute header. He stated after the match: "92nd minute header had cancelled out Mohammadmahdi Jannianavaei’s 47th minute opener for the Iranians."
Just moments later, Kang Myong Bom scored the decisive winner for DPR Korea. This marked their second consecutive victory in the qualification stage. In Group C, Palestine also has three points, while Vietnam remains at the bottom without a point.
What is next for the national team?
Despite this setback for the youth side, the immediate focus for the senior Iranian national team is their upcoming fixture. They are scheduled to face Russia away on September 29, 2026. This is a significant away match listed on the team's fixtures schedule.
Iran will be looking to improve their record in the World Cup qualifiers. The team aims to blend experience and youth to secure better results moving forward. More details on the players involved in the squad can be found on our squad list. The upcoming match in Moscow presents an opportunity to turn recent draws into wins and close the gap at the top of the table.
