Soccer-North Korea v Japan World Cup qualifier called off - AFC

FILE PHOTO: Japan Football Association (JFA) President Kozo Tashima attends a news conference at its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan April 9, 2018. REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo

TOKYO (Reuters) -North Korea's World Cup qualifier against Japan that was scheduled to be held in Pyongyang next week has been called off, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said on Friday.

According to a report from Kyodo News, North Korea, which has no formal diplomatic relations with Tokyo, decided not to stage the match in Pyongyang over worries about infectious diseases in Japan.