The Japanese women's soccer team, where confusion continues over the venue, will compete against North Korea for the first match of the Asian final qualifying round for the Paris Olympics, and it has been reported that the first match will be held in Saudi Arabia, and on the night of the 20th, players from the Japanese national team headed to Saudi Arabia. I left.
The first away game of the Asia Final Qualifier, in which Japan and North Korea will face each other in a home-and-away format, was originally scheduled to be held on the 24th of this month in Pyongyang, North Korea.
Earlier this month, the Asian Football Confederation suggested that North Korea consider holding the match at a neutral venue, citing difficulties in preparing for the match, and coordination has since stalled.
Regarding this, Norio Sasaki, chairman of the women's committee of the Japan Football Association, said, ``We received information from the Asian Federation that they are preparing to hold the tournament in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and we have been instructed to prepare for that.''20 The day was revealed.
In addition, there is information from the Asian Federation that North Korean athletes and others have obtained visas to enter Saudi Arabia, but there has been no official notification that the venue has been decided yet.
Against this backdrop, on the night of the 20th, approximately 40 players and staff members from the Japanese national team visited Narita Airport and headed to Saudi Arabia on two separate flights to prepare for the match.
They are scheduled to arrive around 10 a.m. local time on the 21st, and the players will make some light adjustments in the afternoon before starting full-scale practice from the 22nd.
Four players from overseas, including Fuka Nagano and Risa Shimizu, who had not returned from England, will also join the team and make final preparations for the match on the 24th.