North Korea cancels World Cup qualifier against Japan
Abrupt decision comes hours after launch of most powerful ICBM to date
Japan were due to meet North Korea in Pyongyang on March 26
North Korea has abruptly cancelled its 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Japan, just hours after the country launched its most powerful ICBM to date.
The Japanese Football Association (JFA) said in a statement that it had been notified by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) that the match, which was due to be played in Pyongyang on March 26, had been cancelled.
The JFA said it was "deeply disappointed" by the decision, and that it would be seeking further clarification from the AFC.
The cancellation of the match is a major blow to Japan's hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. Japan is currently third in Group B of the Asian qualifiers, behind Saudi Arabia and Australia.
North Korea is bottom of the group, and has yet to win a match.
The launch of the ICBM is a reminder of the tensions between North Korea and the rest of the world. The United States and its allies have condemned the launch, and have called on North Korea to denuclearise.
It is unclear whether the cancellation of the World Cup qualifier is related to the ICBM launch.
Last modified on Fri 22 Mar 2024 1401 EDT
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