FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Get to know the reason why North Korea pulled out of the remaining 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers after being just 1-point behind group leaders Turkmenistan.
The Asian Qualifiers have been on a hold since September 2019. Even during the steep rise of the on-going pandemic, there were no Asian qualifiers held. The AFC stated last month that a common host nation would be decided for all groups so that all the other teams could assemble at one place.
For Group H, the centralized venue was South Korea. The group consists of leaders Turkmenistan, South Korea, North Korean, Sri Lanka and Lebanon.
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Why did North Korean Pull Out of the Remaining Qualifiers?
With 3 games remaining, North Korean had a legitimate chance of qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Although they were placed at 4th spot in Group H, the difference between them and group leaders, Turkmenistan was only 1-point. So, what caused North Korea to pull out of the qualifiers as per the announcement of AFC.
The Covid-19 pandemic has forced most of the second round of Asia’s preliminary tournament for the Qatar World Cup to be postponed until June. Although there is no official word released by the team official or the players. But as per the reporting of local news channels in North Korean, it reason seems to be the rise in concerns over Covid-19.
South Korea is scheduled to host North Korea, Turkmenistan, Lebanon and Sri Lanka in Group H qualifying matches from June 3-15 in the city of Goyang, just north of Seoul.
Is 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers the only event North Korea has withdrawn from?
No, this is not the only major event North Korea has pulled itself out from. The decision also means that North Korea will miss out on the 2023 Asian Cup, which was scheduled to be staged in China. This is because the qualification for the World Cup and the continental tournament are combined.
Moreover, North Korea’s Olympic committee also said last month it decided to drop out of the Tokyo Olympics to protect its athletes from pandemic’s infections.
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