Korea Friendly Match: Japan Cancellation & Further Risks?

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Appearance during the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup. /AFPBBNews=News1

It is not easy for the Korean national soccer team to find an opponent for the first warm-up match after the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup finals draw. Although they are scheduled to go on an expedition to Europe, the strong European teams have already confirmed their opponents for the evaluation matches or are heading to other continents such as North and Central America. Even evaluation matches with teams in the ‘same group as Japan’, where interests may be aligned, are virtually canceled.

On the 28th (Korean time), soccer statistics media Football Meets Data published a summary of the matchups of major evaluation matches for teams scheduled to advance to the World Cup finals starting in March of next year. In addition to previously announced schedules such as Argentina-Spain, Brazil-France, and England-Japan, one of the matchups that stands out is the friendly match between Canada and Tunisia.

The March international match schedule for most African teams currently participating in the Africa Cup of Nations, including Tunisia, has not yet been officially announced, but based on Middle East media reports, the warm-up match between the two teams is scheduled to be held in Toronto, Canada at the end of March. If the away exhibition match in Canada is confirmed, Tunisia will have to play all two consecutive A matches in North and Central America as FIFA regulations prohibit traveling to the continent during the A match. Tunisia has also been mentioned as Korea’s friendly match opponent, but even if it happens, it is expected to happen only in May or June, right before the World Cup.

Tunisia’s trip to Canada stands out because it is an opponent worth targeting for the so-called ‘Japan effect’ and could also be a meaningful evaluation match for Korea, led by coach Hong Myung-bo. Tunisia was in Group F with the winner of the Netherlands, Japan, and UEFA Playoff (PO) Pass B (Ukraine, Poland, Albania, and Sweden) in the World Cup finals. Korea is in Group A with Mexico, South Africa, and the winner of UEF PO Pass D (Denmark, Czech Republic, Ireland, North Macedonia).

From Korea’s perspective, Tunisia could have been a ‘virtual match against South Africa’, and conversely, from Tunisia’s perspective, Korea could have been a ‘virtual match against Japan’. Coincidentally, Tunisia and South Africa’s FIFA rankings were 40th and 61st, respectively, as of November, so from Korea’s perspective, the friendly match against South Africa seemed meaningful enough. However, as the possibility of Tunisia actually heading to North and Central America increases, there is a greater possibility that the March friendly match against Tunisia will actually be cancelled.

Results of Group F of the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup finals, including the winners of the Netherlands, Tunisia, Japan, and UEFA Playoffs (PO) Pass B (Ukraine, Poland, Albania, and Sweden). /AFPBBNews=News1

It’s not just Tunisia. As it had been 2 years and 6 months since the team had been to Europe and the World Cup was approaching, it was necessary to clash with a strong European team, and the Netherlands, ranked 7th in the FIFA rankings, was in the same group as Japan. However, the Netherlands’ international match schedule for March has been quickly confirmed against Norway and Ecuador. In the end, it has become difficult for Korea to see the ‘Japan effect’ in the process of finding an opponent for the March evaluation match.

Like the Netherlands, most strong European teams have confirmed schedules for two-game international matches, or Korea is leaving for Europe for North, Central America, and the Middle East, and it is difficult to find a strong European team to play an evaluation match. The likely opponent for one of the two-game series is Austria, and although its FIFA ranking is two levels lower than Korea’s, its FIFA ranking is the highest among the ‘remaining European teams’ whose international match schedule is not yet confirmed.

Since the meaningful two-game series of European friendly matches has virtually been cancelled, a neutral friendly friendly match against another team from Africa is being discussed as a strong possibility. However, Morocco (11th) and Senegal (19th), whose FIFA rankings are higher than Korea’s, do not meet Asian teams in the same World Cup group, so the Korean match does not have much meaning. Egypt, led by Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), is also likely to head to the Middle East during the international match in March. If we eliminate the teams whose matchups were canceled, including Tunisia, one by one, only teams with lower FIFA rankings or who failed to advance to the World Cup finals, such as Algeria (35th) and Ivory Coast (42nd), who lost 2-4 at the 2014 Brazil World Cup 11 years ago, remain. As the World Cup approaches, the meaning of the warm-up match in March is bound to fade as well.

Previously, coach Hong Myung-bo said, “(The game against Austria) is in that context because we are playing against a European team in our first World Cup game,” but added, “Except for Mexico, we also play against African teams. It would be good if it was a strong team with players of similar types to the opposing team we will face, but we are taking a flexible approach. I think we will have to wait a little longer.”

Hong Myung-bo, head coach of the national soccer team. /Photo=Newsis

Final results of the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup final group stage. /Photo = Provided by the Korea Football Association

Reporter Kim Myeong-seok elcrack@mtstarnews.com

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