The North Korean national soccer team has arrived in Japan for the second Asian qualifying round for the 2026 North and Central America World Cup.

“North Korean men’s soccer team arrived in Japan. They were allowed to enter the country under the exception of the sanctions imposed by Japan,”.

About 30 players and staff members arrived at the airport via Beijing, China, and Haneda Airport in Tokyo. The players, accompanied by black suits and North Korean national flags, entered the airport and were greeted by officials from the Japan Korean Association.

Recently, the Japanese government banned North Korean nationals from entering the country due to sanctions against North Korea’s nuclear and missile development programs, but allowed entry with a separate exception for international sports events. Japan previously accepted the entry of the North Korean women’s soccer team into the final Asian qualifying round for the 2024 Paris Olympics held last month.

The North will hold its second preliminary match against the Japanese national team at the National Stadium in Tokyo on Wednesday. The North belongs to Group B along with Japan, Syria and Myanmar, and ranks second with one win and one loss (three points). After winning 6-1 in an away match against Myanmar in November last year, the North lost to Syria 0-1. The North is committed to maintaining its No. 2 position in the group by adding more points in the two consecutive matches against Japan.

After the third game on the 21st, he will move to Pyongyang and play the fourth game at Kim Il-sung Stadium on the 26th. 바카라사이트 순위