Japan Claims Victory Over North Korea by Default as Pyongyang Cancels Hosting Duties
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On the 21st, Japan claimed a 1-0 victory over North Korea in the second round of the Asian qualifiers for the ‘2026 North America World Cup’. ⓒ Newsis
North Korea has once again unilaterally notified Japan that they cannot host a home game.
Japanese media such as Kyodo News and Nikkan Sports quoted a Japan Football Association official on the 21st, reporting, “The DPR Korea Football Association has expressed difficulty in holding the “the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America” Asian qualifiers round 2 match scheduled for the 26th in Pyongyang.”
Kozo Tashima, the president of the Japan Football Association, also confirmed, “The match in North Korea has been canceled.” The North Korean national football team responded, “We will not comment on future schedules.” The Japanese team, scheduled to depart on the 22nd and enter Pyongyang via China, is now in a “stop” state.
Japanese media speculated on the sudden cancellation, stating, “Rumors that an epidemic is expanding in Japan have reached North Korea. It appears they have completely banned entry from Japan as part of the quarantine measures against the increasing number of cases of “Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome (STSS)” in Japan.
The AFC had inspected Pyongyang as the venue for the match on the 26th and deemed it feasible to hold the match at the Kim Il Sung Stadium. However, they were taken aback by North Korea’s sudden “impossibility notice.” While the AFC is demanding the DPR Korea Football Association proceed with hosting in a neutral location, it is almost impossible for North Korea to find a neutral location within four days.
This is not the first time North Korea has unilaterally announced impossibility.
Last month, ahead of the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament final qualifiers, they notified of their inability to host at the Kim Il Sung Stadium in Pyongyang, stating that they were “not ready” without meeting the conditions proposed by the AFC.
Ultimately, the AFC scheduled the first round of the ‘2024 Paris Women’s Olympic Football Tournament qualifiers 1st round away in Saudi Arabia, a neutral location. At that time, Japan drew 0-0 with North Korea in the first round held in Saudi Arabia and won 2-1 in the second round, securing a ticket to the Olympics.
They drew 0-0 with North Korea in the first round, held away in Saudi Arabia, and won 2-1 in the second round, held at home, securing a ticket to the main round.
The national team’s schedule stopped due to North Korea’s unilateral notice, so the Japanese media criticized it: “North Korea has announced impossibility again. North Korea has lost trust in the sports world.” Japan may win by default if an alternative venue is not decided this time.
Japan defeated North Korea 1-0 in the home third round held at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo the day before. With three consecutive wins and nine points, Japan leads Group B, while North Korea has fallen to third place with one win and two losses (three points).
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