In the wake of the 2026 FIFA World Cup disaster, South Korean soccer is in turmoil as Lee Min-sung leads the U-23 national team in a bid to reclaim honor with a fourth consecutive Asian Games title.
South Korean soccer is currently reeling from the fallout of the World Cup, where the team finished in a historic low of 34th place. Following this disappointing performance, head coach Hong Myung-bo resigned on June 29, taking responsibility for the team's poor results. The World Cup failure also caused a drop in FIFA rankings, with South Korea falling to 32nd place in the latest rankings released on July 21, marking the first time in nearly four and a half years that the team has been outside the top 30. Administrative chaos is also rampant, with a National Assembly hearing scheduled for July 30 to investigate the Korea Football Association's operations and coaching selection process.
Amid this widespread disappointment in South Korean soccer, the pressure is on Lee Min-sung's team as they prepare for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in September. Since the 2014 Incheon Games, South Korea has won gold medals at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games and the 2022 Hangzhou Games, and they are now targeting a fourth consecutive title. Winning the gold medal could help shift the heavy atmosphere surrounding South Korean soccer following the World Cup debacle.
On July 23, during the tournament draw, Lee's team was placed in Group D alongside Saudi Arabia and Qatar. A total of 15 countries will compete in men's soccer, divided into four groups. While Groups A to C consist of four teams each, Group D is uniquely composed of only three teams. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals, where they will compete in single-elimination matches for the championship.
Being in a three-team group is advantageous for a short tournament format, as it allows for one less match in the group stage, making it easier to manage stamina for the quarterfinals.
However, the competition remains fierce. Although South Korea avoided facing Uzbekistan and Iran, they will still contend with formidable Middle Eastern teams in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Recent matchups have not favored South Korea. In two recent age-group friendly matches against Saudi Arabia last year, South Korea lost 4-0 and 2-0. Qatar has also built a strong team with significant investment, establishing solid organization from the youth level. Historically, South Korea has a record of 1 win, 5 draws, and 2 losses against Qatar at the U-23 level.
To achieve the best results in this short tournament, Coach Lee has assembled a top-tier roster. The final 23-man squad includes players like Yang Min-hyeok (Tottenham Hotspur), Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City), and Kim Ji-soo (Brentford), along with nine players competing in Europe, such as Park Seung-soo (Newcastle United), Lee Hyun-joo (Aroca), Kim Myung-jun (Hank), and Lee Young-jun (Grasshopper). Additionally, 14 players from the K League, including Kang Sang-yoon (Jeonbuk Hyundai), Lee Seung-won (Gangwon FC), and Choi Woo-jin (Jeonbuk), have also been selected.
Three wild cards, which do not have the 23-and-under age limit, have been strategically utilized. Players who experienced the North American World Cup, including Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic), Eom Ji-sung (Swansea City), and Lee Gi-hyuk (Gangwon), will play crucial roles in balancing the team's offense and defense.
Immediately after the draw, Coach Lee stated, "Both Saudi Arabia and Qatar have proven to be competitive teams on the Asian stage. However, to achieve the desired results in the tournament, we must win against any opponent. We will do our best to prepare for good performance and results."
The U-23 team will gather in early September to refine their teamwork before traveling to Japan, where they will face Qatar in their first group match on September 15 and Saudi Arabia in their second match on September 22.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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