Derby between nations that share similar name will be absent

At the beginning of June the Asian World Cup 2022 together with Asian Cup qualifiers 2023 will continue with minus one team. Three days ago from group H officially has departed North Korea, who like that is the first who have pulled out at the second round. Without specifying the main reason behind the withdrawal, it is assuming that the country has abandoned the competition due to the epidemic fears.

Hence, four teams are left to participate in the last group with five games (out of the original eight) until the end of this phase and all are going to be played at Goyang stadium in neighboring South Korea, which means that the great duel between these two rivals this year will not be taking place.