Japan Advance in FIFA World Cup Qualifying After North Korea Game Cancelled

Japan look poised to achieve the ultimate stage of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup with out kicking a ball after FIFA mentioned their match at North Korea won’t be rescheduled.

North Korea have been alleged to stage the qualifier on Tuesday within the capital Pyongyang however 5 days earlier than the sport officers abruptly mentioned the remoted nation couldn’t play host with out giving a motive.

On Friday the Asian Soccer Confederation mentioned the match was off and on the weekend FIFA mentioned it “shall neither be performed nor rescheduled”, citing lack of house within the worldwide soccer calendar.

“The matter and match end result might be referred to the FIFA disciplinary committee,” soccer’s world governing physique added.

North Korea may endure a 3-0 forfeit consequently, which might ship Japan into the third stage of qualifying for the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

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

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Coach Hajime Moriyasu, who took Japan to the final 16 of the Qatar World Cup after wins over Spain and Germany, had been eyeing the North Korea recreation as a possibility to make enhancements following an unconvincing show within the dwelling leg.

“It’s unlucky that we misplaced the chance to appropriate areas of concern and potential areas for enchancment that got here to mild,” he mentioned on Friday.

“We’ll purpose to enhance as a group based mostly on what we now have constructed thus far.”

Japan have been dumped out of the Asian Cup quarter-finals 2-1 by Iran final month after coming into the match as favourites.

(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – AFP)