North and South Korea to clash on road to Los Angeles Olympics

AFP
Fans with North Korean flags painted on their faces
Fans with North Korean flags painted on their faces
© AFP

North Korea and South Korea will face off in women's football with a prized berth at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics at stake.

Thursday's draw at Asian Football Confederation headquarters in Kuala Lumpur lumped the two Koreas -- who are still technically at war -- together in qualifying Group B.

The neighbours are scheduled to play each other twice, home and away. Also in a competitive group are China and the Philippines.

Group A comprises Australia, Taiwan, Uzbekistan and Asian champions Japan.

The winners of each group qualify for the 2028 Games, with the two second-placed sides going into playoffs.

Group-stage matches will take place between April 19 and December 4, 2027.

North and South Korea clashed at the Asian Games in Japan in September, with a niggly encounter ending 1-1.

There was a total of 27 fouls during the match, the first after less than 30 seconds.

The two countries remain technically at war because the 1950-53 Korean war ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty.

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