Qatar’s football team expressed satisfaction with a 2-2 draw against their North Korean hosts in a match that was paused for approximately 20 minutes due to heavy rain. This game took place at the newly inaugurated National Stadium in Laos, as part of the second round of the group stage in the third round of Asian qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Following a disappointing loss to the UAE (1-3) in the first round, the Qatari side managed to secure one point, placing them at the bottom of the standings. Meanwhile, North Korea also dropped points after losing their opening match against Uzbekistan (0-1).
The most significant opportunity for Qatar came in the 16th minute, when forward Almoez Ali tested the North Korean defense with a close-range shot that missed the target. North Korea responded swiftly, with Ri Il-sung scoring a spectacular goal from the edge of the penalty area, finding the top left corner of the net in the 19th minute.
Nine minutes later, after a review by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), Malaysian referee Mohamed Nazmi Nasr al-Din awarded a penalty to Qatar for a foul on Akram Afif, resulting in the dismissal of North Korean player Jang Kuk Chol. Afif calmly converted the penalty in the 31st minute, equalizing for Qatar. Just before halftime, Ali added a second for Qatar with a brilliant strike from the left inside the box, beating the North Korean goalkeeper in the 44th minute.
However, Qatar’s lead was short-lived; in the 51st minute, Kang Kuk-chul leveled the match again with an impressive free-kick that found the top right corner of the goal.
The referee halted the game in the 57th minute due to rain, which lasted for about 20 minutes, before the match resumed in challenging wet conditions. Despite Qatar’s attempts to clinch a victory and secure three points, they ultimately settled for a draw.
