An unusual match between Japan and North Korea in the first match of the Asian final qualifying round for the women's Paris Olympics.

The first match of the women's Paris Olympics Asian final qualifying match between Japan and North Korea was held on the 24th in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Japan's representative team "Nadeshiko Japan", which is ranked 8th in the world, is ranked 9th in the world rankings.
drew 0-0 against North Korea. The venue for the match was decided to be in neutral Saudi Arabia three days before the match. Nadeshiko Japan's uniform combination was also a Hot Topic in the chaotic match.
Became. The match was originally scheduled to be held at North Korea's Kim Il Sung Stadium. "Nadeshiko Japan" was expected to enter Pyongyang, but
The federation proposed holding the event in a neutral location because there are no regular flights between Japan and North Korea and there are many uncertainties regarding competition management. In response, North Korea requested that the event be held in China, but
Coordination was difficult because China was not prepared. Since North Korea was considered to be the host for this match, North Korea had the right to choose an alternative venue, and Japan had no choice but to wait for the decision.
It has been decided that the event will be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. On the 23rd, North Korean national team coach Ri Yu-il held a press conference there, saying, ``It's a shame that we can't play in Pyongyang in front of our family and friends.''
Unfortunately, I accept the decision. The climate is the same in both. I don't care," he said. On the 24th, when the daytime maximum temperature exceeded 30 degrees, the match was played with almost no spectators.
Ta. Japan held the ball from the start and pushed, but they were unable to create the chances they wanted. On the other hand, North Korea aggressively sent the ball from the beginning and looked to score points. In the second half, Japan
Ribble tried to turn the tide by bringing in players like Yoshino Nakajima, but they were unable to score and the match ended in a 0-0 draw. After the game, coach Futoshi Ikeda said, ``It was a game that led to a fight at home.''
On the other hand, he expressed some regrets, saying, ``The opponent had the ball and we didn't have a lot of opportunities to steal it.'' Captain Saki Kumagai said ahead of the second match on the 28th, ``I'm looking forward to playing the game at home.''
I want to do my best so that I can get a ticket to the Paris Olympics together with everyone.'' The combination of Nadeshiko Japan's uniforms was also a hot topic during the match.
It was. He wore a blue first uniform, which he wears when playing games at his home ground, but he wore pink pants, which he wears for away games. Originally, Nadeshiko Japan was home
For away games, he wears a blue shirt and white pants, and for away games he wears a pink top and bottom. This color scheme was chosen because North Korea has a combination of "white" on the top and bottom, but it is an unusual combination.
The combination caused an uproar on the internet. The match appears to have attracted a lot of interest in North Korea, with articles published by the state-run Korean Central News Agency and Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Korean Workers' Party.
The second match will be held on the 28th at the National Stadium in Tokyo. On the night of the 25th, North Korean national team players arrived in Japan. Approximately 200 people, including members of the General Federation of Korean Residents in Japan (Korean Federation), rushed to Haneda Airport.
I welcomed you. This is the first time for the North Korean team to visit Japan in about five years, since the World Figure Skating Championships in March 2019. Japan has imposed its own sanctions that prohibit North Korean nationals from entering the country, but sports exchanges are prohibited.
This will be treated as a special case. There was a tense atmosphere, with fences erected along the passageways of the terminal two hours before the players arrived. Meanwhile, Nadeshiko Japan is scheduled to return to the country on the 26th. Sports
Tsunippon said, ``The North Korean team arrived in Japan a little earlier, giving them an advantage by adjusting the time difference.With the fateful match just three days away, the North Korean team is already in decisive battle mode.'' .
In the second game, if the scores are tied at the end of each half, overtime or penalty kicks will be played, and the winner will qualify for the Paris Olympics.