FIFA, soccer's international governing body, announced to the Japan Football Association on Saturday that Japan won the recently canceled World Cup qualifier against North Korea in a forfeited game.
In the second Asian Group B match, which was originally scheduled for Tuesday in Pyongyang, it was announced that Japan had won 3 wins and 0 losses. With this victory, Samurai Blue achieved their fourth consecutive win and secured their participation in the Asian final qualifiers with two games remaining.
On March 21, just before news broke that North Korea would not host a home game, Japan defeated North Korea 1-0 at Tokyo's National Stadium.
On March 21, 2024, Japan's Aoi Tanaka (2 from left) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring the opening goal in the first half of the Soccer World Cup Asian Second Qualifier against North Korea held at the National Stadium in Tokyo. person)==Kyodo News
This story was published after Japanese media reported on a “malignant infection” in Japan, apparently referring to an increase in fulminant hemolytic streptococcal infections in the country. .
The next day, the AFC confirmed that the match “would not be held as scheduled due to unforeseen circumstances” and the decision on the match result was left to FIFA.
Japan national team coach Hajime Moriyasu said, “We cannot deny the fact that our players lost an important opportunity to play.'' “(But) we are positive that we have taken a step forward (in World Cup qualifying).”
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