South Korea to hold tune-up friendlies this fall as search for new coach continues

SEOUL, July 28 (AJP) - South Korea will play friendly matches against Venezuela and Uzbekistan in October as the search for a new head coach for the national team continues, the Korea Football Association (KFA) said on Tuesday.

After former head coach Hong Myung-bo stepped down following the team's poor World Cup performance earlier this month, South Korea is scheduled to face Venezuela on Oct. 2 and Uzbekistan on Oct. 6, with details including venues to be announced later.

Venezuela, currently ranked 47th in the FIFA rankings, failed to qualify for this year's quadrennial football tournament after finishing eighth in the South American qualifiers. Uzbekistan, ranked 60th, made its first-ever World Cup appearance but was eliminated in the group stage.

Ahead of those friendlies, South Korea is also scheduled to play two matches in September, although the opponents have yet to be decided.

The upcoming friendlies will put the national team footballers to the test as they prepare for the transition to a new coach amid a leadership vacuum.
  Meanwhile, Uruguayan coach Gus Poyet has publicly expressed his interest in taking charge of the South Korean national team. Poyet, who has managed several European clubs, left Saudi Arabian club Al-Khaleej in May this year after a one-year stint with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC in 2025.

Poyet said he had considered various options but after seeing what happened at this year's World Cup, the South Korean national team had become "the only option" for him.

Separately, a recently formed committee co-chaired by Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) president Ryu Seung-min and former national team captain Park Ji-sung is working on ways to reform the football governing body following a series of controversies involving the appointment of coaches and other irregularities.

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