Wrong North Korean anthem played before South Korea hockey match at Asian Games

The wrong national anthem was played ahead of South Korea’s match against Bangladesh on Friday

Asian Games organisers mistakenly played the North Korean national anthem ahead of a men's hockey match between Bangladesh and South Korea.

The Asian Games 2026 had a moment of controversy on Friday when the organisers accidentally played North Korea’s national anthem before South Korea’s men’s field hockey match against Bangladesh. The unusual incident took place ahead of the Pool A fixture at Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium in Kakamigahara.Wrong anthem. Another Asian Games embarrassment.The North Korean national anthem was played instead of South Korea’s before South Korea’s men’s hockey match against Bangladesh in Gifu on Friday.South Korean players were left bewildered as the anthem played. Organisers…— Diganta Guha (@diganta_guha) September 18, 2026 Video of wrong anthem viralSouth Korean players appeared visibly confused as the anthem was blasted over the the speakers. While some stood in attention, others were left awkwardly staring at each other. Officials soon realised the error and stopped the anthem before playing the correct national anthem of South Korea.The incident quickly drew attention online, with videos showing the players’ reactions circulating widely on social media. The anthem mix-up, involving two neighbouring countries that remain technically at war left the organisers red-faced. South Korea were able to put the incident behind them once the match began, securing a comfortable 5-0 victory over Bangladesh in their opening game of the tournament.Asian Games 2026: India And Four Other Teams Complete Flag Hoisting Ceremony After Delay, Disruption Amid Organisational ChaosChaos at Asian GamesThe start of the Asian Games 2026 has been hit with several complications. Teams have struggled to find accommodation in Japan, while there have also been issues with food and travel. The traditional flag hoisting ceremony at the Asian Games, involving India among others, was first delayed, then disrupted before finally taking place on Friday following the resolution of an unspecified "trouble" by the organisers.

South Korea’s hockey team was briefly stunned when North Korea’s anthem was played before their Asian Games match against Bangladesh, which they won 5-0. Meanwhile, accommodation problems continued, with some athletes assigned unsuitable shared rooms. Japan’s deputy Chef de Mission Hisashi Mizutori said the organisers were working on solutions, while the Japanese team had booked backup hotels for emergencies.