Prior to the final Asian qualifying round for the Soccer World Cup Qatar in late January, the warm-up game against Uzbekistan scheduled by the Japanese national team in Saitama City on the 21st was canceled due to the influence of the new coronavirus.
The Japanese national team was scheduled to play a warm-up game with Uzbekistan at Saitama Stadium in Saitama City on the 21st for the final Asian qualifying round for the World Cup Qatar tournament, which will resume in late January.
However, the Japan Football Association has announced that it will cancel the match because the government has not allowed the Uzbekistan national team to enter the country due to the spread of infection with the new coronavirus Omicron strain.
On the other hand, the Japanese national team will play against China on January 27th and Saudi Arabia on January 1st at the same Saitama Stadium in the final Asian qualifying round for the World Cup qualification. The match will be held as scheduled.
According to Kiyotaka Suhara, Managing Director of the Japan Football Association, the government has informed the government that it is necessary for players to enter the country at this time because of the high public interest and urgency.
"We would like to take full responsibility for the prevention of virus infection by implementing stricter epidemic prevention measures," said Suhara.