Japan Awarded Victory in Fiery North Korea World Cup Qualifier Conflict
Japanese Forfeit Awarded After North Korea Cancels Pyongyang Match
Tokyo AP — The World Cup soccer qualifier between North Korea and Japan has erupted in controversy, with Japan being awarded a 3-0 forfeit win after North Korea abruptly canceled the match hours before its scheduled kickoff in Pyongyang.
The sudden cancellation has sparked a diplomatic firestorm, with Japan expressing outrage and demanding an explanation from North Korea. The decision has also raised questions about the safety of holding sporting events in the isolated nation, where tensions have been running high in recent weeks.
According to Japanese officials, North Korea informed them late Monday that they would not be able to host the match due to "unforeseen circumstances." Japan immediately protested the decision, but North Korea has yet to provide a detailed explanation for the cancellation.
The World Cup qualifier was scheduled to be played on March 26 in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea. Japan had been set to travel to the city for the match, but their delegation was turned away at the border on Monday.
The cancellation of the match is a major setback for North Korea's hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. The team had already lost their opening match of the qualifying campaign, and a forfeit defeat makes their chances of reaching the tournament even slimmer.
For Japan, the forfeit win is a major boost to their own hopes of qualifying for the World Cup. The team had already beaten North Korea 1-0 in Tokyo earlier in March.
The World Cup qualifying campaign for the 2026 tournament is set to continue in June, with Japan facing Myanmar and North Korea set to play Lebanon.
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