Editing 1966 FIFA World Cup (section)

====North Korea–United Kingdom relations====
The United Kingdom, which had fought for South Korea in the [[Korean War]], was concerned over the entry of North Korea in the tournament. The [[North Korea–United Kingdom relations|UK did not recognise North Korea]] and feared that its presence would strain relations with South Korea and the United States. FIFA told England's Football Association that the tournament would be moved if any qualified team were to be refused entry.<ref name=nk1>{{cite news |title=World Cup fears over North Korea in 1966 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10305374 |access-date=27 July 2023 |work=BBC News |date=13 June 2010}}</ref><ref name=nk2>{{cite news |last1=Southern |first1=James |title=They Think it's all Diplomacy: North Korea, the Foreign Office and the 1966 World Cup |url=https://history.blog.gov.uk/2016/07/29/they-think-its-all-diplomacy-north-korea-the-foreign-office-and-the-1966-world-cup/ |access-date=27 July 2023 |work=gov.uk |date=29 July 2016}}</ref>

On the suggestion of the British [[Foreign Office]], the playing of national anthems, and meetings between players and state figures such as Queen [[Elizabeth II]], would only take place in two games: the opener and the final. North Korea was not scheduled for the former, and was considered unlikely to reach the latter. A Foreign Office suggestion for flags outside stadiums to be removed after each team's elimination, in the expectation of an early North Korean exit, was vetoed by the [[Department for Education and Skills (United Kingdom)|Department of Education and Science]].<ref name=nk1/><ref name=nk2/>