Japan are expected to be declared winners of the 2026 World Cup qualifier in North Korea after FIFA said the match, originally scheduled in Pyongyang, would not be played.
With FIFA changing the qualification quota for Asian teams qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, national team head coach Kim Pan-gon now has an easier path to help Malaysia qualify for the world's biggest football event.
Harimau Malaya midfielder Brendan Gan remains unfazed as he and his teammates take on Kyrgyzstan in the 2026 World Cup/2027 Asian Cup qualifiers at Bukit Jalil National Stadium this Thursday.