KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced that North Korea’s home World Cup qualifier against Japan, scheduled for Tuesday, will be relocated to a neutral venue instead of Pyongyang. This decision comes just four days before the anticipated match.
According to AFC General Secretary Windsor John, it is typically the hosting team’s responsibility to nominate a neutral venue. However, in this case, the AFC will take charge of selecting the venue due to the failure of the hosting team to make a nomination.
While the reason for the change in venue was not officially disclosed, reports suggest that North Korea expressed concerns about potential bacterial infections in Japan, prompting them to decline hosting the match.
During discussions between North Korean and Japanese officials, it was proposed to relocate the match to Japan. However, Japan Football Association Chief Kozo Tashima indicated that an immediate decision was not feasible and would require at least two to three days to consider.
The match, initially planned to take place in Pyongyang, would have marked Japan’s men’s team’s first visit to North Korea since 2011 and a rare international football event in the country.
Despite the relocation, tensions persist between North Korea and Japan, stemming from historical grievances and diplomatic disputes. North Korea’s participation in previous World Cups, notably in 2010 and 1966, adds significance to the fixture despite the logistical challenges.
