TOKYO – North Korea’s World Cup qualifier against Japan that was scheduled to be held in Pyongyang on March 26 has been called off, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirmed on March 22.
The AFC said in a statement that it was “informed on March 20 by the DPR Korea Football Association of the need to move the match to a neutral venue due to unavoidable circumstances”, in reference to North Korea’s formal name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
“The matter will now be referred to the relevant committees in Fifa with further updates to be communicated in due course.”
According to a report from Kyodo News, North Korea – which has no formal diplomatic relations with Tokyo – decided not to stage the match in its capital city over worries about infectious diseases in Japan.
Japan and North Korea are in Group B of 2026 World Cup qualifying, along with Syria and Myanmar, with the North Koreans scheduled to stage two home games in June.
The news came after Japan beat North Korea 1-0 in a group match in Tokyo on March 21. The reverse match would have been the first game in North Korea for the Japanese men’s team since 2011.
North Korea last hosted a men’s match in Pyongyang in 2019 during the qualifying competition for the 2022 World Cup. The country then pulled out of that competition, citing health concerns related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In February, an Olympic qualifier between the women’s teams of North Korea and Japan scheduled in Pyongyang was switched at the last minute to a neutral venue in Saudi Arabia.
Despite being isolated and poor, North Korea qualified for the 2010 World Cup. But they were knocked out at the group stage following three defeats, including a 7-0 thumping by Portugal.
They also qualified in 1966 when they famously beat Italy 1-0 and made it to the quarter-finals.
Over in the South, Son Heung-min admitted that he considered quitting international football following a turbulent Asian Cup with South Korea but decided to continue for the fans.
“Playing for the national team is a promise between myself and the fans,” the captain said following a 1-1 home draw with Thailand in their World Cup qualifier on March 21.
“I absolutely want to honour that. I am going to keep my head down and play hard, and I hope I can grow stronger so that I won’t ever think about quitting again.” AFP
