S. Korea move to top of group in World Cup qualifying following N. Korean withdrawal

South Korea have climbed to the top of their group in the Asian World Cup qualifying campaign after all matches involving North Korea got wiped clean following their withdrawal.

The Korea Football Association (KFA) on Thursday relayed the decision reached by FIFA earlier in the week. North Korea, grouped with South Korea, Lebanon, Turkmenistan and Sri Lanka in Group H of the second qualifying round for the 2022 World Cup, decided to pull out earlier in the month.

In this file photo from Oct. 10, 2019, South Korean players pose for photos in front of fans following their 8-0 victory over Sri Lanka in the teams’ Group H match in the second round of the Asian qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Hwaseong Sports Complex Main Stadium in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. (Yonhap)

North Korea had played five matches, posting two wins, two draws and a loss to rank fourth in the group. Those matches will now be nullified.

As a result, South Korea, which had been in second place after four matches, moved up to first place.

South Korea initially had two wins and two draws, one of which came against North Korea in October 2019. Now, South Korea have two wins and a draw for seven points.

Lebanon also have seven points, but South Korea hold the tiebreak edge in goal difference, plus-10 to plus-4.

The qualifying format will remain intact: the eight group winners and the four-best runners-up will advance to the third round.

When determining the rankings of No. 2 seeds, their results against fifth-place teams in their respective groups will not count.

South Korea, coached by Paulo Bento, will take on Turkmenistan on June 5, Sri Lanka on June 9 and Lebanon on June 13. All matches will be played at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, just northwest of Seoul.