The Korea Football Association (KFA) plans to ask the world governing body of soccer to help mediate with North Korea in preparations for an inter-Korean World Cup soccer qualifier.

KFA Vice President Cho Chung-yun said Wednesday his association will appeal to the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) if the North continues to remain silent on its requests for cooperation. The inter-Korean soccer match is slated for March 26th in Pyongyang.

Cho said the KFA had asked up until last week for the North’s response on preparations for cheering squads and journalists.

Despite the delays, he was quick to rule out the possibility of holding the match in a third country. He said he believes the two Koreas will eventually smooth out their differences.

South and North Korea remain wide apart in several areas. In particular, the North is reluctant to allow the South to display its flag and play its national anthem at the match.

South Korea, seeking its seventh consecutive World Cup berth, will compete with North Korea, Jordan and Turkmenistan in the third stage of the Asian qualifying rounds.

Next month’s match in Pyongyang would be the first time since 1990 for the two national teams to face off in the North Korean capital.