The South Korean U-23 men's football team kicked off its campaign at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games with a decisive 4-1 victory over Qatar, setting the stage for a potential fourth consecutive title.
Under the guidance of head coach Lee Min-seong, the team triumphed in their Group D opener on September 15 at the Mizuho Park Rugby Stadium in Nagoya, Japan, thanks to a hat trick from Um Ji-sung of Swansea City. South Korea aims to secure its fourth consecutive gold medal, following victories in Incheon in 2014, Jakarta-Palembang in 2018, and the 2022 Hangzhou Games.
This tournament features 15 nations divided into four groups, with the top teams advancing to the knockout stage. South Korea will face Saudi Arabia in their next match on September 22.
Lee Min-seong's squad featured Kim Myung-jun (Henk) leading the attack, supported by Um Ji-sung, Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City), and Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic) in the midfield. Captain Lee Gi-hyuk partnered with Lee Seung-won (Gangwon) in the center, while the defense comprised Kim Ji-soo (Brentford), Shin Min-ha (Gangwon), Choi Seok-hyun (Ulsan), and Bae Hyun-seo (Gyeongnam). The goalkeeper was Kim Jun-hong (Suwon).
In a match against a Qatari team composed entirely of players born after 2005, South Korea dominated from the start.
Um Ji-sung opened the scoring just seven minutes into the match, allowing South Korea to control the game. After a long pass from Kim Ji-soo, Um skillfully maneuvered into the penalty area from the left and scored with a left-footed shot.
In the 20th minute, Um capitalized on a defensive error, netting another goal from the center of the penalty area with his right foot. He completed his hat trick in first-half stoppage time, receiving a pass from Lee Seung-won.
The second half saw continued pressure from South Korea. In the 52nd minute, Bae Jun-ho's cross found Yang Hyun-jun, whose shot was saved by the goalkeeper. Shortly after, Kim Myung-jun had two attempts blocked following a cross from Choi Seok-hyun and a header from Um Ji-sung.
Finally, in the 66th minute, Kim Myung-jun scored with an assist from Yang Hyun-jun, solidifying South Korea's lead.
In the 72nd minute, Lee Min-seong substituted Kim Myung-jun, Bae Jun-ho, and Lee Seung-won for Yang Min-hyuk (Beveren), Lee Hyun-joo (Aroca), and Kang Sang-yoon (Jeonbuk), allowing the team to manage the game comfortably. However, in the 85th minute, they conceded a goal to Mirwan Hassan due to a lapse in defense during a free kick, but South Korea maintained a three-goal lead to finish the match.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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