North Korea moves World Cup qualifier from Pyongyang due to ‘security concerns’ | NK News
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December 26, 2024

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North Korea moves World Cup qualifier from Pyongyang due to ‘security concerns’

Iranian state media reports men’s match will now take place in Laos, despite DPRK’s plans to open to tourism weeks later

North Korea has relocated a men’s World Cup qualifying match against Iran from Pyongyang to Laos due to “security concerns,” according to Iranian state media, despite the match taking place just weeks before the country will reportedly reopen to tourists.

Citing soccer’s world governing body FIFA, Tehran’s official newspaper Iran reported on Wednesday that the qualifier scheduled for Nov. 14 will now be held in Vientiane due to the DPRK’s “special regional conditions and security issues.”

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