Iran vs North Korea prediction, H2H and probable lineups - June 10, 2025
The 10th round clash of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup between Iran and North Korea will take place on Tuesday at the Imam Reza Stadium in Mashhad. Here’s a betting tip for this encounter with solid chances for success.
Match preview
Iran enters the final match of the qualifying cycle as the leader of Group A, having already secured their spot at the 2026 World Cup. Amir Ghalenoei’s team stumbled in the previous round, losing 0-1 away to Qatar — a decisive moment came with Milad Mohammadi’s red card, leaving Iran a man down. That defeat snapped an impressive 12-match unbeaten streak, and now Team Melli are clearly determined to finish qualifying on a high note in front of their home fans in Mashhad.
Iran has displayed stability and composure across the pitch, particularly in defense — prior to the loss in Qatar, they had rarely conceded. Motivation remains high: despite their qualification being assured, the coaching staff won’t compromise on the lineup, aiming to restore their winning rhythm and delight the supporters. Facing the group’s clear underdog is the perfect chance for some squad rotation while maintaining a winning result.
North Korea has had a disastrous qualifying campaign, and the match against Iran holds no tournament significance for Chollima. After a 2-2 draw with Kyrgyzstan, where they squandered a comfortable lead, the team lost even their mathematical chances of advancing. DPRK’s issues are clear — an unstable defense, a lack of creativity up front, and poor stamina over the course of matches.
Nevertheless, North Korea’s fighting spirit deserves mention: they have scored in almost every match and battle until the final whistle. In the last head-to-head against Iran in November 2024, DPRK narrowly lost 2-3, putting up a real fight against a superior side. However, away from home, against a powerful Iranian squad and with nothing on the line, repeating that feat will be an uphill battle.
Probable lineups
- Iran: Beiranvand; Hardani, Kanaani, Khalilzadeh, Mohammadi; Noorafkan, Ezatolahi; Jahanbakhsh, Ghoddos, Ghaedi; Taremi
- North Korea: Kang, Kim, Jae-Hwan, Kwang-Hun, Cho, Ri, Kang, Kim, Chung-Song, Ri, Han
Match facts and head-to-head
- Iran is unbeaten against DPRK in their last 25 matches (16 wins, 7 draws).
- Iran’s last six wins over DPRK have all been by a single goal margin.
- Both teams have scored in six of North Korea’s last seven games.
Prediction
With superior quality, the backing of their home crowd, and a desire to bounce back from the Qatar setback, Iran should confidently see off a weak and disjointed DPRK side. Even with possible changes to the lineup, Team Melli’s advantages across the board are clear. The visitors are unlikely to keep a clean sheet, especially given their defensive frailties. Still, North Korea, despite being out of contention, continues to show fighting spirit in every match. Our bet for this game: "North Korea +2.0 Asian handicap" at odds of 1.62.
