2026 World Cup Qualification Match North Korea vs Japan Canceled

Tokyo, Beritasatu.com – The 2026 World Cup qualifying match between North Korea and Japan which was scheduled to be held in Pyongyang next week has been cancelled.

North Korea, which does not have formal diplomatic relations with Tokyo, decided not to hold the games in Pyongyang due to concerns about infectious diseases in Japan.

The decision was taken after consultation with FIFA and relevant stakeholders. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) was notified on March 20 by the North Korean Football Association of the need to move the match to a neutral venue due to unavoidable circumstances.

“This matter will now be referred to the relevant committee at FIFA with further developments to be communicated in due course,” the AFC said in a statement.

Japan and North Korea are in group B for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, along with Syria and Myanmar. Japan beat North Korea 1-0 in another qualifying match in Tokyo on Thursday (21/3/2024).

North Korea last hosted an international men's soccer match in Pyongyang in 2019 in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup. The country withdrew from the competition due to health concerns related to the Covid-19 pandemic.

North Korea is also scheduled to hold home qualifying matches against Syria and Myanmar in June.