Is North Korea 1966 the most astonishing World Cup underdog run of all time?

In this Mid-Season Break Seasonal Special, super guest Phil Craig takes us down one of football history’s most improbable rabbit holes: North Korea at the 1966 World Cup. Set against the shadow of the Cold War, we unpack how politics, perception, and FIFA power dynamics shaped their path to England — and why their story deserves a place at the “Table of Greatness” conversation.

From a chaotic, obstacle-strewn qualification journey, to the shockwave win over Italy, to that jaw-dropping quarter-final with Portugal (yes, that first-half scoreline…), this is the episode where sport collides with history — and somehow ends up getting adopted by Middlesbrough along the way.

Takeaways

• How the Cold War shaped the way the world viewed North Korea’s team
• Why FIFA allowing participation wasn’t as straightforward as it sounds
• The night North Korea stunned Italy and flipped the tournament on its head
• How they used translated political ideology Chollima directly into tactical identity
• What the Portugal quarter-final revealed about their ceiling — and their tragedy
• The cultural clash (and warmth) of North Korea living in England, Boro-style

If you love World Cup lore, sports politics, and proper football-history weirdness, this one’s for you. Listen now, and then tell us: where does North Korea 1966 belong in the Table of Greatness?

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