According to the Choson Ilbo:
North Korea will receive at least US$10 million from FIFA for fielding its national team in the World Cup. The figure amounts to three month’s wages for the over 43,000 North Koreans working in the joint Kaesong Industrial Complex.
FIFA gives the 32 teams playing in the World Cup $1 million each for preparation costs. After playing three matches in the first round, each team is given an additional $8 million no matter if it advances to the next round or not. From this year, every club that has a player in the World Cup receives $1,600 per day, per player. The paid period begins two weeks before the opening of the tournament and ends a day after the final match of each contending team.
For North Korea, the period lasts until this Saturday as it plays its final first-round match against Cote d’Ivoire on Friday. Less the three players who play for foreign football clubs — Jong Tae-se, An Yong-hak and Hong Yong-jo — the North will be given a combined $960,000 for the remaining 20 players on its team. Mostly soldiers, they are affiliated with six domestic clubs. FIFA’s payment is made to each club, but as the North’s are all state-run clubs, Pyongyang has secured at least $9.96 million so far.
If North Korea makes it into the qualifying round it will be awarded an additional $9 million. The teams playing in the quarter-final receive $14 million each and those in the semi-final $18 million each, while the winner takes home $30 million.
With its national team playing in this year’s World Cup, North Korea has also signed a $4.9 million deal under which Italy-based sports apparel maker LEGEA will provide the North with jerseys and training gear for four years.
Read the full article here:
N.Korea to Earn $10 Million for World Cup
Choson Ilbo
6/21/2010
North Korea suffered a huge 7-0 defeat today against Portugal. It is quite unfortunate I guess because this was, supposedly, the first World Cup match ever that was broadcast live on North Korean television. I wonder how the North Koreans will respond to seeing their team losing with such big numbers?
at least they’ve received some experience on playing with professional international teams. that might make it easier for them to qualify at the next world cup.
They do play fairly regularly against international opposition but mainly in Asia, they play qualifiers for the World Cup, Asian Cup, Olympics, etc but they are vastly short of experience playing against higher-level European and S American teams who are simply a class above Asian national teams. Sadly for them constantly trouncing the likes of Mongolia and Sri Lanka and then fightinh to goaless draws against regional footy-powers like Saudi and Iran are no prep for facing the world’s best teams, better luck next time!
FYI though: Women’s World Cup kicks off next year in Germany, NK are a well established upper-level team in the ladies game, the Korean girls will be harder to beat than the boys have proven to be