New York - Japan has cancelled two scheduled football matches in the United States, and a third in Canada, over concerns that its players may catch swine flu, the US Soccer Federation said Tuesday. The US has 3,009 confirmed (A)H1N1 influenza cases and three deaths, the largest number in the world. Mexico, the epicentre of the global outbreak, reported more than 2,000 infections and 56 deaths. Canada has 330 confirmed cases and one death.
Japanese teams were to face the US women teams for a first game at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas, on May 20 and a second game at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah, three days later.
Japan cancelled those two games and a third one in Canada on May 25 when its teams were scheduled to face Canadian players at the BMO Field in Toronto.
"This is an unfortunate situation, but one that we had absolutely no control over," said US Soccer President Sunil Gulati.
"We have been assured that the risk to the participating teams is exceptionally low, but we accept the Japanese Federation's decision not to travel."
