North Korea, which refused to play its home game against Japan in the World Cup qualifying round, will be fined following its forfeiture loss. 토토
FIFA said on its website on Thursday (Korea time) that it imposed 10,000 Swiss francs in sanctions on the North Korean Football Association for refusing to host the fourth Group B match against Japan in the second qualifying round for the 2026 North Korea-China World Cup. The sanctions added to its forfeiture.
North Korea belongs to Group B of the second round of Asian qualifiers against Japan for the North-China World Cup. It lost to Japan 0-1 in the third round match held at the New National Stadium in Shinjuku, Tokyo on June 21.
The North was then scheduled to play the fourth round of the match at Kim Il Sung Stadium in Pyongyang on April 26, in the same manner as the home-and-away method. However, the North suddenly informed the North that it would be difficult to hold the home game.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) hurriedly tried to push for the match in a third neutral zone, but failed to set up a venue for the event. FIFA sent North Korea to the disciplinary committee on April 24, confirming Japan's 3-0 forfeiture win over the Pyongyang game in question.
Japan secured victory without going to Pyongyang and secured 12 points, confirming its advance to the final qualifying round regardless of the results of the remaining two matches of the second qualifying round. Having lost due to forfeiture, North Korea ranked third with three points (1 win and three losses). In the second qualifying round, the runner-up in each group will advance to the final qualifying round.