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An uncanny 'Japan World Cup curse!' Will Haaland's Norway win this World Cup?
🇰🇷 South Korea /Sports

An uncanny 'Japan World Cup curse!' Will Haaland's Norway win this World Cup?

From Chosun Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • A recurring pattern, dubbed the 'Japan World Cup curse,' suggests teams that defeat Japan in the tournament eventually lose to the eventual champions.
  • This pattern has held true in four previous World Cups.
  • The article questions if Norway, led by Haaland, could be the next team to break this 'curse' or fall victim to it.

A curious phenomenon known as the 'Japan World Cup curse' has captured attention, highlighting a peculiar trend in past tournaments. This unofficial 'curse' posits that any team eliminating Japan from the World Cup subsequently loses to the tournament's eventual winner.

This pattern has remarkably held true on four separate occasions. For instance, in 2002, Turkey defeated Japan in the round of 16 but later fell to Brazil in the semifinals. Brazil went on to win the tournament, marking their last World Cup title to date.

The article raises the intriguing question of whether this 'curse' will continue to influence future tournaments. It specifically ponders if Norway, potentially propelled by star player Erling Haaland, might be the next team to either break this historical anomaly or become its latest victim. The 'curse' adds an unusual layer of narrative to the competitive landscape of the World Cup.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Chosun Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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