Fifa World Cup: Korean derby in Pyongyang to go ahead without away fans or tourists; online commentary only way to keep up with score from Kim Il-sung Stadium

Foreign tourists are not allowed to attend the World Cup Qualifier between North Korea and South Korea on Tuesday, reports from sources in Pyongyang have confirmed.

This is at odds with previous matches held in the North Korean capital, where tickets have been available to visitors and games have been watched by foreign diplomats as well as local fans.

The source indicated it was unclear whether locals would be allowed into the 50,000 Kim Il-sung Stadium for the 4.30pm kick-off. There was also little evidence that a game was to be played later in the deserted streets surrounding the ground on Tuesday morning.

The number of South Koreans who visited the North in 2018 numbered 6,689 according to data released by the ROK Unification Ministry earlier this year, as reported by NK News website.

None will be in the Kim Il-Sung stadium to cheer on South Korean football’s poster boy Son Heung-min and his teammates as they look to qualify for the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar.

It is unusual enough that the game will take place in North Korea at all. The last time that the men’s teams met was in 2008 during qualifying for the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa. The game scheduled to be played in North Korea was instead played in Shanghai, after the North Koreans refused to hoist the South Korean flag or play their anthem.

Tuesday’s game will mark the first competitive fixture played between the Korean men’s teams in Pyongyang. Their most recent meeting came in a 1990 friendly.

It was confirmed on Monday that Tuesday’s game would not be broadcast live in South Korea, despite the efforts of the country’s three largest broadcasters.

The news, which was widely expected, came as a disappointment for football fans the world over who wanted to watch one of the most hotly anticipated contests of the ongoing World Cup Qualifiers.

Korean World Cup derby will not be seen in Seoul

Previous games involving North Korea, such as the AFC Asian Cup qualifier with Hong Kong in March 2018, have not been broadcast overseas.

That game was updated live on the AFC’s online match centre and social media, with the same expected on Tuesday with live commentary showing goals and substitutions available on Fifa and the AFC.

Games are not often seen live inside North Korea, but highlights are shown. It is this footage that usually finds its way out of the country.

‘Pyongyang away’ was unforgettable football experience

However, with the host nation owning the rights to AFC World Cup qualifiers, rather than the governing body, it is entirely at their discretion.

South Korea’s women played North Korea in an Asian Cup qualifier in 2017 in Pyongyang. An edited highlights package of the game was screened days after.

The unification ministry, the South’s government body for inter-Korean issues, confirmed that they expected to leave the country with a DVD of the game.

South Korea top group H entering this fourth match day, with six points from their two games including an 8-0 win over Sri Lanka last week. Their northern neighbours also have six points from two games.

The South Korean team also had new jackets produced to reflect the ongoing political situation between the two countries. Their Nike travel outfits contained the addition of “ROK” and a South Korean flag, rather than the logo of the South Korean FA and “Korea”.

The rematch in South Korea is scheduled for next June.