World Cup qualification: Japan probably doesn’t have to travel to North Korea

As of: March 22, 2024 7:55 a.m

The travel warning for fans is probably no longer necessary because Japan’s away game against North Korea will not take place in Pyongyang – at the request of the North Koreans.

The explosive qualifying game for the 2026 World Cup between North Korea and Japan will be played at a neutral location and not in the North Korean capital Pyongyang. The Asian Football Association AFC announced this on Friday (March 22, 2024).

“Normally it is the responsibility of the host team to name the neutral venue, otherwise the AFC has to name it,” AFC general secretary Windsor John told AFP. The game should take place as planned next Tuesday.

Request at halftime

Just a few hours after the Japanese’s 1-0 first leg win in Tokyo on Thursday, association head Kozo Tashima said that the North Korean side had asked for the second leg to be moved during the game. The North Koreans “asked us at halftime if we could organize it in Japan.” Japan leads qualifying group B with three wins from three games, against North Korea Ao Tanaka from second division team Fortuna Düsseldorf scored the only goal (2nd minute) after an assist from Freiburg’s Ritsu Doan.

General secretary John did not say why the game would be postponed. The Japanese news agency Kyodo reported on Thursday that North Korea did not want to host the game due to fears of bacterial infections in Japan.

Association warns fans about arrival

The game had already caused a stir in advance; Japan had warned its fans against traveling to the game. “As you know, North Korea is hostile to Japan and travel is not recommended for the general public,” the State Department wrote on X.

There was no travel ban, although the two countries do not have diplomatic relations. It would have been the teams’ first meeting in North Korea since 2011.

Women’s international match moved to Saudi Arabia

The women’s national teams of the two countries also met in qualifying for the Olympic Games in Paris. The first leg was moved from the North Korean capital to neutral soil in Saudi Arabia in February.