Japan’s men’s football team beats North Korea 1-0 to reach the semifinals... Will a Japan–South Korea final be set up at the Nagoya Asian Games?

[Financial News] Host nation Japan defeated North Korea, its “Hangzhou jinx,” to reach the semifinals of the men’s football tournament at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. The result also opened the possibility of a Japan–South Korea final for the third consecutive Asian Games.
Japan secured a narrow 1-0 victory over North Korea in the quarterfinals at Toyota Stadium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, on the 26th, thanks to Nwadike Uche’s opening and decisive goal in the 39th minute.

The rematch drew considerable attention as the two teams met again after three years, following the ugly scenes in the quarterfinals of the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, when Japan won 2-1. At the time, North Korean defender Kim Yu-song threatened Japan’s coaching staff, while North Korean players, including captain Jang Kuk-chol, protested aggressively by pushing the referee after the defeat, sparking controversy.
Japan survived a scare in the 36th minute when goalkeeper Rui Araki stopped a shot by North Korea’s Choe Guk. Three minutes later, Japan created an opportunity, and mixed-race player Nwadike Uche, after receiving a long pass from Sato Mihiro, beat North Korean defender Kim Yu-song in a challenge and fired a right-footed shot into the net. North Korea protested that Nwadike had committed a pushing foul, but the goal stood.
North Korea, urgently seeking an equalizer, and Japan, intent on protecting its lead, fought a tense battle in the second half while using substitute players. North Korea launched 18 shots in total, but only three were on target. Its severe lack of finishing ultimately resulted in a shutout defeat. North Korea’s quest to reclaim the title ended 48 years after it shared the championship with South Korea at the 1978 Asian Games in Bangkok.

Japan became the last team to qualify for the semifinals after defeating North Korea, completing the men’s football semifinal bracket at the tournament.
The Lee Min-sung-led South Korea under-23 national team, seeking a fourth consecutive title, will face China in the semifinals at Yanmar Stadium Nagai in Osaka at 3 p.m. on the 30th. Later that day, Japan will meet Uzbekistan in the other semifinal at 7:30 p.m.
Japan is seeking its first Asian Games title since the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, a 16-year wait. It has reached the final in each of the past two tournaments—the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang and the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games—but lost to South Korea both times and settled for silver medals. If South Korea and Japan defeat China and Uzbekistan, respectively, in the semifinals, the two teams will meet in the Asian Games final for the third consecutive time, with the gold medal at stake.
[email protected] Park Ji-hyun Reporter