North Korea to suspend further protests amid China-related incident at Womens Asian Cup

North Korea to Face Australia in Women’s Asian Cup Quarterfinals

North Korea will face Australia in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup on Friday at Perth Rectangular Stadium. The team has pledged not to repeat the sideline protests that occurred during their group game against China earlier this week.

During the match, North Korea refused to play for several minutes after a disputed goal was scored by Wang Shuang in first-half stoppage time. The team demanded the referee review the pitchside monitor and refused to resume the game for four minutes as boos rang out. Coach Ri Song Ho acknowledged that his actions led to a yellow card being issued.

In a statement, coach Ri said that if similar situations arise during Friday’s match against Australia, the team will follow the referees’ decisions and respect them. North Korea is set to face a partisan crowd at Perth Rectangular Stadium, where they lost to Australia on penalties in the 2010 final.

The Australian team, led by Sam Kerr, boasts a young and physical side that has been preparing for the match. Talented striker Choe Il Son played in both the U17 World Cup and U20 World Cup before transitioning to the full national team.

The quarterfinals match is not only crucial for securing a semifinal berth but also for 2027 World Cup qualification, with the top six finishers booking their tickets to the tournament.

Source: Al Jazeera