North vs South: Koreas lined-up for World Cup encounter but doubts over venue

October 4 – South Korea says it is still unsure whether its upcoming World Cup qualifier against North Korea will take place in Pyongyang or switched to a neutral ground.

The Korean FA says it hadn’t yet received any information from its counterpart in Pyongyang regarding logistics for the game on October 15, which would be a first competitive men’s meeting between the sides in the North Korean capital.

North Korea hosted South Korea for an international friendly there in 1990.

North Korea nominated the 50,000-capacity Kim Il-sung Stadium in in Pyongyang as the host venue for the fixture following after the Asian qualifying draw in June.  But the south says it has had little contact despite sending an “additional letter” to the Asian Football Confederation.

The pair have been drawn together in group H of the second round of Asian qualifying for the 2022 finals in Qatar along with Lebanon, Turkmenistan and Sri Lanka.

They were previously drawn to face each other in both the third and fourth rounds of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup finals but the games designated as home matches for North Korea were played in  Shanghai.

“When North Korea tells us where to pick up our visa, then we’ll prepare accordingly,” the KFA said in a statement.

Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1711631299labto1711631299ofdlr1711631299owedi1711631299sni@w1711631299ahsra1711631299w.wer1711631299dna1711631299

 


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