Daizen Maeda will be making an early return to Lennoxtown during this international break, but it’s not due to an injury.
Japan players pose for a team group photo before the match REUTERS/Issei Kato
The scheduled return match between North Korea and Japan for the Asian qualifying Group B qualifiers has been cancelled.
Initially set to take place on Tuesday at the Kim Il-sung Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea opted not to host the return leg following the teams’ first encounter in Tokyo, where Japan secured a 1-0 victory.
The announcement came shortly after the Tokyo match, with Kozo Tashima, the president of the Japan Football Association, confirming to the press that the subsequent game in Pyongyang would not proceed as planned.
Following this development, FIFA confirmed that the match scheduled for March 26 would neither be held nor rescheduled. [NikkanSports]
Consequently, Japan is expected to be awarded a 3-0 forfeit win. This decision not only ensures Japan’s qualification for the 2027 Asian Cup but also advances them to the third round of AFC qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
Maeda’s early return to Celtic will be a welcome development for the team, allowing him more time to prepare with the squad for upcoming fixtures.
