S. Korea coach thinking about nothing but victory over Oman in World Cup qualifier

South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo said Monday he is bracing for a tough World Cup qualifying match against Oman away from home but he is not about to settle for anything less than a victory. South Korea and Oman will clash Tuesday for their second Group B match in the third round of the Asian qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The match at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Muscat kicks off at 6 p.m. local time, or 11 p.m. in South Korea. South Korea, world No. 23, got their third round

Sept. 9, 2024

S. Korea defender Kim Min-jae apologizes for action after recent World Cup qualifier

South Korean center back Kim Min-jae on Monday apologized for his action following a recent World Cup qualifying match against Palestine in Seoul, where he clashed with some fans over their booing. South Korea settled for a goalless draw against Palestine to begin the third round last Thursday in Seoul, despite being 73 spots higher than their opponent in the FIFA rankings at No. 23. Nearly 60,000 fans that flocked to Seoul World Cup Stadium booed South Korea's head coach, Hong Myung-bo, du

Sept. 9, 2024

Natl. football team's sellout streak ends as fans express displeasure

South Korea failed to sell out their World Cup qualifying match in Seoul on Thursday, the first time since October last year that the Taegeuk Warriors did not play in front of a full house at home. The Korea Football Association (KFA) said about 4,000 tickets had been left unsold an hour before the 8 p.m. kickoff for the Group B match of the third round in the Asian World Cup qualification between South Korea and Palestine at Seoul World Cup Stadium. The stadium seats about 65,000. South Korea h

Sept. 5, 2024

Son Heung-min earns 128th cap, alone in 4th on all-time S. Korean list

South Korean captain Son Heung-min earned his 128th international cap on Thursday to grab the sole possession of fourth place on the country's all-time list. Son was inserted into the starting lineup against Palestine in the countries' Group B match of the third round in the Asian qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The match was to kick off at 8 p.m. at Seoul World Cup Stadium. Son, captain for both South Korea and the Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, had been tied with L

Sept. 5, 2024

S. Korea captain Son Heung-min wants new faces to play with confidence

With the new head coach and a few new faces aboard for South Korea, captain Son Heung-min has a lot to juggle as the Taegeuk Warriors prepare to host Palestine in a World Cup qualifier. He will have to be the bridge between Hong Myung-bo, about to begin his second stint as the senior men's bench boss, and the rest of the team, while also making sure a handful of youngsters can find their footing. Son also has a crucial on-pitch role as the team's offensive engine. The 32-year-old said

Sept. 4, 2024

S. Korea training camp opens ahead of World Cup qualifying matches as coach Hong begins 2nd tenure

South Korea opened their training camp Monday ahead of two World Cup qualifying matches coming up this month, as head coach Hong Myung-bo began his second tour of duty with the men's national team. South Korea will host Palestine at 8 p.m. Thursday at Seoul World Cup Stadium to begin Group B play in the third round of the Asian qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. South Korea will then visit Muscat to play Oman on Sept. 10. These will be Hong's first two matches in his second t

Sept. 2, 2024

Sports ministry launches audit into football federation's hiring of new men's coach

The sports ministry said Friday it has launched an investigation into the national football governing body over possible irregularities during its recent hiring of the new men's national team head coach. An official with the ministry said the audit on the Korea Football Association (KFA) essentially began Thursday when Jang Mi-ran, the second vice minister, broached the subject during her media availability. After meeting Choo Kyung-ho, floor leader of the ruling People Power Party, at the

July 19, 2024

Defending champions Pohang Steelers reach Korea Cup semifinals

Defending champions Pohang Steelers advanced to the last four at the top national football tournament Wednesday. Pohang defeated FC Seoul 5-1 in the quarterfinals of the Korea Cup at Pohang Steel Yard in the southeastern city of Pohang, moving closer to a record sixth Korea Cup title. Two other clubs with five titles apiece, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Suwon Samsung Bluewings, were both eliminated earlier in this year's tournament. Jeong Jae-hee netted two goals, while Oberdan, Lee Ho-jae

July 17, 2024

Sports Ministry, govt.-run body to investigate soccer federation over coach hiring

With controversy surrounding the Korea Football Association's hiring of the new men's national team head coach not dying down, both the Sports Ministry and the state-run Korea Sports Ethics Center have said they will investigate the national soccer body for any procedural issues. The KFA has been under fire since appointing Hong Myung-bo as head coach of the men's national team on July 7. The KFA had spent the previous five months trying to find a replacement for Juergen Klinsmann

July 16, 2024

Natl. football coach Hong Myung-bo asks for fans' support, looks to build distinct culture

As he begins his second tour of duty as head coach of the South Korean men's national football team, Hong Myung-bo asked for support from disgruntled fans Monday. Hong traveled to Europe on Monday to interview candidates for assistant coaching positions on his backroom staff. He's scheduled to make stops in Spain and Portugal in what could be a weeklong trip. It will be his first official activity as the men's national team boss since the Korea Football Assciation announced Saturd

July 15, 2024

Football federation finalizes hiring of Hong Myung-bo as men's head coach

The South Korean national football federation said Saturday it has finalized its hiring of Hong Myung-bo as the new men's national team head coach, following a drawn-out process of replacing Jurgen Klinsmann. The Korea Football Association said its board of directors approved Hong's appointment in a vote held from Wednesday to Friday, with 21 of 23 eligible voters supporting the 55-year-old tactician. The KFA announced Hong's nomination last Sunday, and the final step through th

July 13, 2024

Outgoing Ulsan coach acknowledges fans' anger toward his departure for national team

Ulsan HD FC head coach Hong Myung-bo said Wednesday he understands the anger Ulsan supporters feel toward him for leaving their K League 1 club for the South Korean national team. Before Ulsan hosted Gwangju FC at Munsu Football Stadium in the southeastern city of Ulsan, Hong met with the media for the first time since being named the new head coach for the men's national team on Sunday. Hong's hiring came as a surprise to many, because Hong had publicly rejected offers from the Kore

July 10, 2024

Surprise appearance of Son Heung-min packs public park in minutes, prompts police to control area

South Korean football star Son Heung-min was spotted playing a casual match at a public park near Seoul, drawing thousands of spectators in minutes and prompting police to control the scene, according to police and witnesses Saturday. Police said some 13 reports had been filed as of 9:20 p.m. Friday of a crowd surging to a "dangerous" level at a public sports park in Yongin, just south of Seoul, where the captain of Tottenham Hotspur apparently happened to have turned up and been playi

July 6, 2024

Videos show physical punishment, foul language by Son Heung-min's father, coaches at football academy

Under investigation for child abuse allegations, Son Woong-jung, football coach and father of South Korean Premier League star Son Heung-min, was seen kicking a young player at his namesake academy in a video obtained by Yonhap News Agency on Friday. Another clip showed other coaches at Son Football Academy, located in the eastern city of Chuncheon, yell at junior players with profanity during a match in Fukuoka, Japan. The senior Son and two of his coaches at the academy, including Son Heung-mi

July 5, 2024

[Graphic News] Transfer values of Asian soccer players

"Golden Boy" Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has been ranked second in transfer value among Asian soccer players by the International Centre for Sports Studies, affiliated with FIFA. Transfer value is a comprehensive figure considering factors such as a player's age, remaining contract period, playing time and performance record. Lee has been valued at $53.1 million, placing him second among Asian players. Kim Min-jae of Bayern Munich ranks fourth with a transfer value

July 5, 2024

Senior official handling men's football coaching search offers to resign

A senior South Korean football executive in charge of the men's national team coaching search has offered to resign, officials said Saturday, as the country's bid to hire a new bench boss took an unexpected turn. According to officials at the Korea Football Association, Chung Hae-soung, head of the National Teams Committee at the KFA, expressed his intent to step down during his visit to the KFA headquarters in Seoul on Friday. Chung cited his declining health as a reason, but the KFA

June 29, 2024

Summer exhibitions featuring Tottenham sold out

Tickets for summer exhibition matches in Seoul involving the Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur have all sold out, organizers announced Saturday. South Korean streaming service Coupang Play said tickets for two matches in the "2024 Coupang Play Series" were all snapped up after going on sale at 8 p.m. Friday on its website. Tickets were only available to paying members of Coupang WOW services. Tottenham, captained by South Korean star Son Heung-min, will first face Team K League, ma

June 29, 2024

Korea to face 5 Middle East foes in World Cup qualification

South Korea will play five Middle East teams in the next phase of their qualification campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. South Korea ended up with Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Palestine and Kuwait in Group B in the third round of the Asian World Cup qualification, following the draw in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday. The 18 qualified teams from the second round were divided into six pots based on their FIFA world rankings released last Thursday. Each group contained one from each of the six pots. As world

June 27, 2024

[Graphic News] Son Heung-min named 10th-best forward

ESPN’s FC 100 has ranked Son Heung-min among the world’s top soccer players, placing him 10th in the forwards category. The FC 100 list features the world’s top 100 soccer players, with selections divided into 10 goalkeepers, 30 defenders, 30 midfielders and 30 forwards. Son, ranked 10th among forwards, received praise from ESPN: “One of the most steadily successful players — and best finishers — in the Premier League kept right on going at age 31 this seaso

June 17, 2024