In a shocking turn of events, North Korea canceled their World Cup qualifier against Japan just hours after Japan won the match in Tokyo. Fans and pundits alike were left stunned as Japan secured a 1-0 victory, maintaining their perfect start in the second round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
Following the match, Japan Football Association chief Kozo Tashima revealed that North Korea had cancelled the scheduled qualifier against Japan in Pyongyang, citing concerns about a “malignant infectious disease” in Japan. This news has left many scratching their heads, as there is no evidence to support this claim.
Meanwhile, South Korea struggled to keep up with Thailand in their first game since coach Jurgen Klinsmann was fired in February. Despite Son Heung-min scoring the opening goal for South Korea, Suphanat Mueanta leveled the score shortly after. This setback has left South Korea struggling to maintain their place at the top of the group standings.
In contrast, Australia continued their winning streak by defeating Lebanon 2-0 in Sydney. Goals from Keanu Baccus and Kye Rowels secured victory for Australia, leaving Lebanon struggling to keep up. Jordan also won 3-0 against Pakistan, playing for the first time since losing the Asian Cup final to Qatar in February.
The top two teams from each of the nine groups will advance to the final round of qualifiers, with an automatic allocation for Asia at the World Cup increasing from four to eight spots. With so much at stake, every match is crucial as teams jockey for position atop their respective groups.