AFC, North Korea-Japan World Cup Qualifiers

AFC "North Korea-Japan World Cup Qualifiers will be Held in Neutral Territory, Not Pyongyang"

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirmed that the 2026 North and Central America World Cup Asia second qualifying match between North Korea and Japan will be held in a third neutral venue rather than Pyongyang.

AFC Secretary-General Dato Windsor John said in an interview with AFP on the 22nd (Korean time) that the North Korea-Japan match will be held as scheduled in neutral territory without being canceled or postponed. 카지노사이트

With the 'North Korea-Japan match' in question only four days away, the region where the game will be held instead of Pyongyang is not yet known.

North Korea and Japan were grouped together in Group B of the 2026 North and Central America World Cup Asian second qualifying round group stage.

The day before, Japan defeated North Korea 1-0 in the third game held at the New National Stadium in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.

According to the home-and-away format, the fourth game on the 26th was scheduled to be held at Kim Il-sung Stadium in Pyongyang, but Japanese media reported that North Korea suddenly expressed its intention to hold the game at home.

Secretary-General John did not specify to AFP why it was difficult to hold the event at Kim Il-sung Stadium.

In relation to this, Japan's Kyodo News said, "Japan's 'malignant infectious disease' is being reported in North Korea," and "It appears to be a quarantine measure to guard against Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome (STSS), which is increasing the number of infections in Japan."