KFA executive says Hiddink will not coach S. Korea nat'l football team at World Cup

A high ranking official at the national football association said Thursday that former men's national team head coach Guus Hiddink will not be returning to the helm, saying such a claim is "ridiculous." Kim Ho-gon, the Korea Football Association (KFA) Vice President who leads the technical committee, said he feels uncomfortable by a media report that Hiddink could coach the national team again for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Citing a source close to Hiddink, a South Korean news channel reported on

Sept. 7, 2017

After World Cup qualification, S. Korea coach vows to play attacking football

Returning home with a World Cup spot, South Korea football coach Shin Tae-yong said Thursday his side will now try to play attacking football.South Korea confirmed their ninth consecutive World Cup appearance Tuesday after they played to a draw with Uzbekistan in Tashkent. They finished in second place in Group A in the final Asian qualifying round with 15 points, two points above third-place Syria. In Asia, only the top two teams in Groups A and B directly advance to the World Cup in Russia, wh

Sept. 7, 2017

[Newsmaker] After long, bumpy road, S. Korea qualifies for 2018 World Cup

It has been a long and bumpy road, but South Korea on Tuesday realized its dream of making it to their ninth consecutive World Cup finals here.  The men's national soccer team secured a spot at the 2018 FIFA World Cup after clinching the second place in Group A in the final Asian qualifying round with a scoreless draw with Uzbekistan.In the Asian Football Confederation, the top two teams from Group A and B in the final round directly advance to the World Cup, while two third-placed teams need to

Sept. 6, 2017

Korea football coach says last two World Cup qualifiers most difficult moments of his career

TASHKENT -- South Korea football coach Shin Tae-yong said Wednesday that his past two matches with the national team have been the most difficult moments of his career.South Korea clinched their ninth consecutive World Cup appearance here on Tuesday despite a scoreless draw with Uzbekistan. The result secured South Korea second place in Group A in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. They finished the group with 15 points, two points above Syria and Uzbekistan. In Asia,

Sept. 6, 2017

Football federation shoots down Hiddink report, to stick to current head coach

The national football federation on Wednesday rejected a media report that former men's head coach Guus Hiddink could be back at the helm, saying it will stick to the current boss Shin Tae-yong through next year's FIFA World Cup.Citing a source close to Hiddink, a South Korean news channel reported earlier that the Dutchman, who guided South Korea to the semifinals at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, is willing to return to his old job "as long as the Korean people wanted him back."The report came out o

Sept. 6, 2017

Tottenham's Son Heung-min silent again as Korea qualify for World Cup

TASHKENT -- Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min said Tuesday South Korea will come up with a better attack at the FIFA World Cup next year, after the team struggled to muster much offense en route to qualifying for the tournament.Son was part of the national team that clinched a spot at the 2018 FIFA World Cup after earning a scoreless draw with Uzbekistan here. The Taeguk Warriors finished second in Group A with 15 points, two points ahead of Syria and Uzbekistan to win the last automatic qualifi

Sept. 6, 2017

Young forward proves caliber, helps Korea qualify for World Cup

TASHKENT -- Although he failed to score, South Korean forward Hwang Hee-chan on Tuesday solidified his reputation as one of the hottest attacking prospects and helped his country to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.Hwang, who plays with Austrian side FC Red Bull Salzburg, played full time as the lone striker in South Korea's 4-2-3-1 system in the national team's showdown against Uzbekistan at Bunyodkor Stadium in Tashkent. This was their last match in the final Asian qualifying round for the

Sept. 6, 2017

S. Korea qualify for 9th consecutive FIFA World Cup

South Korea advanced to their ninth consecutive FIFA World Cup following a scoreless draw against Uzbekistan in their final qualifying match Tuesday.The teams traded 30 shots without landing one in the back of the net at Bunyodkor Stadium, but South Korea earned to right to compete at the 2018 World Cup in Russia after Iran and Syria ended in a 2-2 draw.South Korea finished in second place in Group A of the final Asian qualifying round with 15 points from four wins, three draws and three losses.

Sept. 6, 2017

Korea, Uzbekistan football coaches renew rivalry in decisive World Cup qualifier

TASHKENT -- South Korea football coach Shin Tae-yong and his Uzbekistan counterpart Samvel Babayan will go head-to-head for the first time in nearly 20 months as they will renew their rivalry in a decisive World Cup qualifying match here later Tuesday.South Korea and Uzbekistan will play their last qualifying match in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA World Cup at Bunyodkor Stadium in Tashkent at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Both teams have a shot at qualifying for the top FIFA competition w

Sept. 5, 2017

Son Heung-min puts Korea ahead of personal glory

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan -- South Korean winger Son Heung-min said Monday he'll put the national team ahead of personal glory in an upcoming World Cup qualifier against Uzbekistan.South Korea will take on Uzbekistan at Bunyodkor Stadium in Tashkent at 8 p.m. Tuesday local time, or midnight Wednesday in Seoul. A win will send South Korea to their ninth consecutive FIFA World Cup. But anything less will lead to a much murkier picture, as South Korea's fate will be in the hands of other nations in Grou

Sept. 5, 2017

Korea counting on stars to shine in World Cup qualifier vs. Uzbekistan

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan -- When South Korea take on Uzbekistan for a crucial World Cup qualifying match later Tuesday, they will count on their stars to shine and spark the stagnant attack.The match at Bunyodkor Stadium in Tashkent will kick off at 8 p.m. local time, or midnight Wednesday in Seoul. South Korea will qualify for their ninth consecutive FIFA World Cup with a victory.But anything less will complicate the picture, especially with both Uzbekistan and Syria sitting just two points back in

Sept. 5, 2017

Nearly 7 out of 10 Koreans believe natl. football team will qualify for World Cup

Nearly 7 out of 10 South Koreans believe that the national football team will qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, a survey showed Monday.In the survey conducted by Realmeter on 501 adults nationwide, 66.2 percent of them answered that South Korea will make their ninth consecutive World Cup appearance in Russia next year. Only 21.6 percent said that South Korea will not be represented at the 2018 World Cup.The survey was conducted last Friday, just a day after South Korea had a scoreless draw wi

Sept. 4, 2017

Korea football coach vows to return home with World Cup ticket

INCHEON -- South Korea football coach Shin Tae-yong on Friday vowed to return home with a World Cup spot as the national team departed for Uzbekistan for its last qualifying match. South Korea could have clinched their ninth consecutive World Cup appearance on Thursday at Seoul World Cup Stadium if they defeated 10-man Iran, but instead they settled for a scoreless draw. With the latest result, South Korea's World Cup fate will be now determined in Tashkent on Tuesday and they must win to secure

Sept. 1, 2017

Iran football coach asks for Son Heung-min's jersey after World Cup qualifier vs. S. Korea

For the first time in his 36-year football career, Iran's national team boss Carlos Queiroz has done something that he wouldn't normally do: ask for a player's jersey.Queiroz, who has been leading Iran since 2011, said Thursday that he got a jersey of Tottenham Hotspur's South Korean attacker Son Heung-min after his side collected a scoreless draw at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul. Son played full time and produced a couple of dangerous moments, though he failed to score a goal."For the first

Sept. 1, 2017

Korean football captain says crowd noise disrupted on-field communication

One of the advantages of competing on home soil is having the support of partisan fans in the stands. The biggest of athletes thrive in the most pressure-packed moments, and they are able to feed off the energy of the spectators, rather than wilt under the burden of expectations.South Korean men's football captain Kim Young-gwon, on the other hand, had difficulty playing before a massive crowd Thursday at Seoul World Cup Stadium in the World Cup qualifier against Iran. And he had some practical

Sept. 1, 2017

[Newsmaker] Korea face near must-win situation in final World Cup qualifier

Having squandered a chance to qualify for the World Cup at home, South Korea now face a near must-win situation on the road next week.South Korea could have clinched their ninth consecutive World Cup berth with a win over Iran on Thursday at Seoul World Cup Stadium. But they settled for a scoreless draw against the 10-man opponents, and their fate will be determined next Tuesday against Uzbekistan in Tashkent. It'll be the final qualifying match for both nations.In the ongoing final Asian qualif

Sept. 1, 2017

Red-colored football fever heats up nation's largest stadium for World Cup qualifier

A red-colored football fever heated up the country's largest football-only stadium Thursday as more than 60,000 South Korean fans decked out in red national team jerseys packed the venue to see their team's crucial World Cup qualifier against Iran. The Korea Football Association said 63,124 fans were in attendance in South Korea's showdown against Iran in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA World Cup that started at 9 p.m. at Seoul World Cup Stadium. This was the ninth largest cro

Sept. 1, 2017

S. Korean World Cup hopes still up in air after draw vs. Iran

South Korea blew a chance to qualify for the FIFA World Cup after getting held to an undermanned Iran at home on Thursday.South Korea failed to get past 10-man Iran in their World Cup qualifier at Seoul World Cup Stadium, and their hopes of securing their ninth consecutive trip to football's showpiece event remain up in the air with one match remaining in the final Asian qualifying round.South Korea are still in second place in Group A, thanks to Uzbekistan's 1-0 loss to China also on Thursday.S

Sept. 1, 2017

Korean players on yellow card alert in World Cup qualifier

PAJU -- South Korea will have to be aware of their players getting yellow cards in the World Cup qualifying match against Iran this week, as some of their core members are just one caution away from suspension.Five South Korean players -- Kim Shin-wook, Ki Sung-yueng, Jang Hyun-soo, Choi Chul-soon and Kim Young-gwon -- are all carrying a yellow card heading into their crucial showdown against Iran at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Thursday. If they receive another caution during the match against Ir

Aug. 30, 2017

Despite securing World Cup spot, Iran football coach eager to beat Korea

PAJU -- Iran football coach Carlos Queiroz said Wednesday his side will try to collect a victory against South Korea in order to maintain their undefeated and clean sheet record in the World Cup qualifying campaign.Iran and South Korea will go head-to-head at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Thursday. Both teams are in Group A in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.Queiroz said the match against South Korea is a great learning opportunity for Iran, but that doesn't mean his si

Aug. 30, 2017