Pyongyang, November 10 (KCNA) -- The DPRK and Japan, both belonging to Group C of the Asian regional third-stage preliminaries for the 2014 World Cup, will have a match in Pyongyang on November 15.

Prof. and Dr. Ri Tong Gyu, a football expert and researcher at the Institute of Physical Culture under the Academy of Sports Science, is of the view that the two teams will have a hot match.

Speaking to KCNA, he said the two Asian teams participated in the last World Cup finals.

Earlier, on Friday, the DPRK team meets the Uzbek team, he said, adding:

The two matches are decisive for the three teams in their bid to enter the next stage.

A total of 16 matches have been held between the DPRK and Japan, including a preliminary match for the Asian Football Championship held in June 1975, in which the former defeated the latter 1:0.

The two teams had three matches in Pyongyang. They drew 0:0 in two matches and the DPRK beat Japan 2:0 in the Asian regional preliminaries for World Cup held in June 1989.

I am sure that the DPRK footballers will score good results in the upcoming matches if they fully display their mental and physical power with efficient teamwork.