Japan To Advance In World Cup Qualifying After North Korea Game Cancelled | Football News

Japan look set to reach the final stages of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup without kicking a ball after FIFA said their match against North Korea will not be rescheduled. North Korea was due to host the qualifying match on Tuesday in the capital Pyongyang, but five days before the match, officials abruptly said the isolated country would not be allowed to host without giving a reason. On Friday, the Asian Football Federation said the match would not go ahead and at the weekend FIFA said the match “will neither be played nor rescheduled”, citing a lack of space in the international football calendar.

“The matter and the outcome of the match will be referred to FIFA’s disciplinary committee,” football’s world governing body added.

This could see North Korea suffer a 3-0 defeat, which would send Japan to the third stage of World Cup qualifying in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Japan defeated North Korea 1-0 in Tokyo on Thursday to make it three wins from three in the Asian Qualifying Group B.

Coach Hajime Moriyasu, who took Japan to the last 16 of the World Cup in Qatar after victories over Spain and Germany, had seen the match against North Korea as an opportunity to make improvements after an unconvincing performance at home.

“It is unfortunate that we missed the opportunity to correct the concerns and possible improvements that emerged,” he said on Friday.

“We will strive to improve as a team based on what we have built so far.”

Japan was dumped out of the Asian Cup quarter-finals 2-1 by Iran last month after entering the tournament as favorites.

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