Sports Illustrated
North Korea Cancels World Cup Qualifier With Japan
Sudden Announcement Follows Loss in Tokyo
Tokyo, Japan - March 22, 2024
In a sudden and unexpected move, North Korea has reportedly canceled its upcoming World Cup qualifier against Japan, scheduled for next week. The cancellation comes just hours after North Korea lost 2-0 to Japan in a qualifying match in Tokyo on Thursday.
According to reports, the North Korean delegation abruptly informed the Japan Football Association of its decision to cancel the match on Friday morning. The Japan Football Association has confirmed the cancellation and is currently seeking clarification from FIFA, the sport's global governing body.
The sudden cancellation has left organizers scrambling to find a replacement opponent for Japan. The Japan Football Association is reportedly in discussions with several other Asian countries to fill North Korea's spot.
The cancellation of the match is a significant setback for North Korea's hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup. The team currently sits at the bottom of its qualifying group with just one point from four matches.
Foreign Policy
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