Asia: the final of the AFC Cup (02/11/2019) moved from Pyongyang (PRK) to Shanghai (CHN)

The 2019 final of the AFC Cup (the second-level inter-club competition in Asia, comparable to the Europa League) to be held in Pyongyang (North Korea), will now be held in Shanghai, China, on Saturday 02/11/2019, announced the Asian Football Confederation on 22/10/2019.

This final will pit the April Twenty-Five Sports Club from North Korea (the North Korean Army club) against Al Ahed FC from Lebanon.

"Due to the existing (international) sanctions in place affecting DPR Korea, the AFC has been advised by its commercial rights partners of the challenges in enabling among other matters, the production and broadcast delivery of the Final match, which is one of the most eagerly anticipated events in the AFC’s club calendar," stated the AFC.

The decision comes eight days after the Korea Republic - South Korea match (0-0, Group H) counting for both the 2022 World Cup in Qatar qualifiers and the 2023 Asian Cup in China, at the Kim Il Sung Stadium (50,000 places) in Pyongyang (PRK) on 14/10/2019: this game, which was attended by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, was held behind closed…