The North Korean football team has arrived in Japan to take part in the World Cup Asian qualifying final against Japan on Wednesday.

A jetliner carrying the players arrived at Narita Airport at around 1:40 p.m. Monday. The team was greeted by more than 100 North Korean residents of Japan. North Korea is set to face Japan at Saitama Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The North Korean team began training on Hainan Dao Island in southern China in January, and then moved to the outskirts of Beijing at the beginning of this month.

Team coach Yoon Jeong-soo said his players are in top condition and that he is confident that the team will win a ticket to the 2006 World Cup in Germany.