Free for All: Is North Korea becoming a new football force?

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Welcome to this week's CNN Football Fanzone Free For All! We had fantastic discussion on the best national leagues last week (you can still have your say here), and now we are talking about the national teams on the rise.

Read below what North Korea are up to, and tell us who YOU see as football's next major power.

Kim Jong-il's North Korea may lack freedom and success in economic and political fields; but on the football field North Koreans are leading a small revolution in perceptions of the nation.

The North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) under-17 women's team has just won the FIFA World Cup, beating England in the semi-final and shocking the U.S. in the final to be champions. The under-20 side also won their respective World Cup in Russia two years ago.

The senior women's side won the 2008 Asian Cup after last year making the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup. They are presently ranked fifth in the world.

Although the men are not nearly as strong -- ranked 112th in the world -- their game is improving.

Having not qualified for the World Cup since 1966 when they made the quarter-finals (they are not the only country to cling on to that year for their football pride!), they are beginning to climb their way back in the world game, from a 1998 low of 181 in the world rankings.

In qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the North Koreans have made it through to the final qualifying stage and recently drew with their neighbor South Korea -- a side which was a World Cup semi-finalist in 2002, and unlucky not to make the second round at the 2006 finals in Germany.

Do you think North Korea's men can follow in the footsteps of their women's team to become a world force? Or is this rubbish? Tell us which country you think can climb the world football rankings and why in the Sound Off box below.

There are several other nations on the rise that have the potential to become consistent global powers in the game.

Despite problems of ongoing war and the temporary disbanding of the nation's football association, Iraq has had an international resurgence in recent years.

Although now out of the race for South Africa, they did win the Asian Cup and will appear at the Confederations Cup in 2009.

Australia's Socceroos are also a growing force in international football. They are currently leading their Asian qualifying group for the 2010 World Cup and appeared at the last World Cup in 2006. And who could forget how they were cruelly robbed by a 94th minute penalty against eventual tournament champion Italy in the round of 16?

Australia has experienced some success in under-age tournaments -- which augurs well for the future, and another factor likely to build the strength of the lads from Down Under is their World Cup bid for 2018.

The United States is yet another side with the potential to become a long-term power in the global game.

Some would argue the U.S. side is already a major power, after being ranked fourth in the world prior to the 2006 World Cup, however, the team has since slipped to 24th in the rankings.

At present they're on course to qualify for 2010, and progressing past the first round in that event could see the giant nation establish a firmer presence close to football's best.

Another outsider looking to become a serious force is China. Since a rankings high of 37 in the world in 1998, China has plummeted to sit at 98th.

However, with the growing importance of sport in China highlighted by the nation's medal haul in the Beijing Games, football is likely to be a game where money and expertise will be heavily invested. Do you think China can climb the world rankings?

Tell us who you think will be the next big mover in the football world and why. Do you see a nation making a rapid rise from obscurity? Do you see a country like Paraguay becoming a top 10 nation? Share your thoughts in the Sound Off box below and we'll publish the best!