North Korea pulls out of hosting a 2026 World Cup qualifier

Football fans supporting North Korea in the stands before a 2026 World Cup qualifier begins at Japan National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan on Thursday. [REUTERS]

North Korea will not host a 2026 World Cup qualifier against Japan in Pyongyang next Tuesday.

"The North’s decision appears to be precautionary measure regarding the recent increase of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) patients in Japan,” Kyodo News reported Thursday.

According to Japanese media, the North had been airing reports saying the streptococcal infection was “a malignant infectious disease” in Japan.

The President at the Japan Football Association (JFA) confirmed on Thursday that the qualifier would not happen in Pyongyang and that a new venue has not yet been determined.

The Japanese national football team planned to depart its home country Friday and enter Pyongyang on Monday, a day before the scheduled game.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) inspected Pyongyang’s Kim Il Sung Stadium in early March and confirmed that it was fit to host a World Cup qualifier game.

Japan won against the North with a score of 1-0 in the second round of the Asian qualifier game for the 2026 World Cup, which took place at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo on Thursday.

On Feb. 24, the Japanese women's football team faced the North's team for a qualifier match for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The game was also originally set to take place at Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung Stadium. However, due to concerns over game management and poor flight schedules, the JFA raised a complaint to the AFC and the game was moved to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

BY LEE SOO-JUNG [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]