South Korea on Thursday clinched a spot in the final round in the Asian qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, thanks to international sanctions on another country in the same group in the ongoing phase.
Earlier in the day, FIFA decided that the Kuwait-Myanmar match initially scheduled for Nov. 17 last year in the second round of the World Cup qualification should be forfeited by Kuwait, thus resulting in a 3-0 win for Myanmar.
Following the ruling, South Korea, leading the group with 18 points with two matches remaining, have secured the top place in Group G and will advance to the third round as one of eight group winners.
South Korea have won all six matches so far, with 23 goals scored and none allowed. South Korea have played in every World Cup since 1986.
Kuwait are currently in second with 10 points. Lebanon also have 10 points but are trailing Kuwait in goal difference. Along with the eight group winners, the four best runners-up will advance to the third round.
FIFA suspended the Kuwait Football Association last October after it failed to amend the country's sports law to prevent government interference within the national football body. All Kuwaiti teams and clubs were banned from international competition, and the senior national team's match against Myanmar never took place. (Yonhap)