Japan Tells Its Soccer Fans to Stay Away From World Cup Qualifying Match in North Korea

Meanderer

Meanderer

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The North Korean flag is seen during the 19th Asian Games gold medal match between Japan and North Korea’s women’s soccer teams at Huanglong Sports Centre Stadium in Hangzhou, China, on Oct. 6, 2023


"As two rival nations face off against each other to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, one government is trying its best to keep its own fans away."

"On Tuesday, a statement released by Japan’s foreign ministry told Japanese soccer-watchers to refrain from traveling to see the qualifier against North Korea, scheduled for March 26 at Kim Il Sung Stadium in Pyongyang, “as part of measures against North Korea.”

"Japan has discouraged, but does not explicitly ban, its citizens from traveling to North Korea. In 2017, the foreign ministry issued an advisory asking citizens to “please refrain from traveling to North Korea for any purpose,” among other sanctions in response to nuclear weapons tests. Similar advisories had been issued, lifted, and reissued in years prior. The two countries do not have official diplomatic relations."

"The match next week follows a match between the two teams at Tokyo National Stadium on Thursday. Both teams are in a group with Syria and Myanmar as part of the second round of the Asian Federation’s qualification process for the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the U.S."

"The North Korean men’s soccer team arrived in Japan on Tuesday, having been granted exceptions to enter the country despite Japan’s ban on North Korean visitors that was reimposed in 2016. There are expected to be some supporters for the North Korean team at the match in Tokyo in the form of Japan’s ethnic Korean community. (When North Korea last participated in a World Cup finals tournament, in South Africa in 2010, it famously paid Chinese people to cheer in the stands, joining about 300 North Koreans “carefully recruited” by the government to attend as fans, according to the Los Angeles Times.)" (MORE)
 

Japan beats North Korea in World Cup qualifying then North Korea cancels visit by Japan, media says​

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"TOKYO (AP) — North Korea reportedly canceled hosting Japan in a World Cup qualifier just hours after losing to Japan in Tokyo on Thursday."

"Japan scored after just 90 seconds and held out North Korea to win 1-0 and maintain its perfect start in the second round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup."

"Soon after, Japan Football Association chief Kozo Tashima told Kyodo News that North Korea canceled the scheduled qualifier against Japan on Tuesday in Pyongyang, giving the news in a letter to the Asian Football Confederation."

"North Korea was concerned by “a malignant infectious disease” in Japan, an apparent reference to rising cases of streptococcus infections, Kyodo said."

"North Korea, cheered on by a small pocket of red-shirted fans, lacked attacking power to get back in the game. North Korea has only three points from the first three group games."

“We wanted to give our fans a good result and we are sorry we could not but it was a good game,” North Korea coach Sin Yong Nam said.
 
Why would anyone risk going to North Korea after what they did to the high school boy from America when he went with his teacher and group of students? He took a poster off the wall of where they stayed. I won't go into the gruesome details of his punishment but the result was death.
 
"TOKYO (Reuters) -North Korea's World Cup qualifier against Japan that was scheduled to be held in Pyongyang next week has been called off, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said on Friday."

"According to a report from Kyodo News, North Korea, which has no formal diplomatic relations with Tokyo, decided not to stage the match in Pyongyang over worries about infectious diseases in Japan."

"The decision, taken in consultation with FIFA and relevant stakeholders, comes after the AFC was informed on March 20 by the DPR Korea Football Association of the need to move the match to a neutral venue due to unavoidable circumstances," the AFC said in a statement.

"The matter will now be referred to the relevant committees in FIFA with further updates to be communicated in due course."

"DPRK is the abbreviation for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea."
 


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