10-man Korea edge out Qatar 3-2 in World Cup qualifier at home

South Korea edged Qatar 3-2 in their World Cup qualifying campaign on Thursday.Tottenham Hotspur attacker Son Heung-min scored the winner at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, some 46 kilometers south of Seoul, leading South Korea to their second victory in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.Both South Korea and Qatar are in Group A along with Iran, Uzbekistan, Syria and China in the final round. South Korea had a 3-2 win against China and played to a scoreless draw with

Oct. 7, 2016

Korea coach says team must win out at home to qualify for World Cup

After taking just one of their first two matches in the Asian World Cup qualification, South Korea must win out at home to have a chance to play in the big tournament, their coach said Thursday.Uli Stielike returned home from Malaysia, where South Korea only managed a scoreless draw with Syria, a heavy underdog ranked outside the top 100. South Korea had earlier beat China 3-2 at home, and now have four points to sit in third place in Group A of the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA

Sept. 8, 2016

Korea looking for 2nd straight World Cup qualifying victory vs. Syria

South Korea will try to get their second straight win in the final World Cup qualifying campaign as they face "homeless" Syria on the road.South Korea, ranked 48th in the latest FIFA world rankings, will take on No. 105 Syria at Paroi Stadium in Seremban, Malaysia, on Tuesday for their second match in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Syria are the match hosts, but they can't stage World Cup qualifiers in their country due to the ongoing civil war.South Korea and Syri

Sept. 5, 2016

Korea take on China to open final World Cup qualifying round

South Korea will start a year-long journey to the 2018 FIFA World Cup this week against China, with an eye on reaching the sport's premium competition for the ninth consecutive time.South Korea, ranked 48th in the latest FIFA world rankings, will host No. 78 China at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Thursday to open the final Asian qualifying round for the World Cup. South Korea will then face No. 105 Syria five days later on the road.In the previous round, South Korea won Group G with a flawless reco

Aug. 29, 2016

Korea unveil football squad for World Cup qualifiers in Sept.

South Korea on Monday unveiled the 21-man squad for their final round of Asian qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup next month.South Korea, ranked 48th in the latest FIFA world rankings, will host No. 78 China at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Sept. 1 and face No. 105 Syria five days later on the road. For the final regional qualification, where 12 teams compete, South Korea are grouped with Iran, Uzbekistan, China, Qatar and Syria in Group A. Among the 21 players, five have represented South Kore

Aug. 22, 2016

Korea confirms venue for World Cup qualifier vs. China

South Korea will host China at the country's largest football-only stadium in the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifier following the visitors' excessive demand for tickets, the national football governing body said Friday.The Korea Football Association said South Korea's opener versus China in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA World Cup will be staged at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Sept. 1. For the final round, where 12 teams compete, South Korea are grouped with Iran, Uzbekistan, C

July 29, 2016

Korean football chief withdraws from election for FIFA body

South Korean football chief Chung Mong-gyu has pulled out of the election for a seat on FIFA's main decision-making body, the sport's national federation said Tuesday.Korea Football Association President Chung has informed the international football governing body that he will no longer pursue a seat on the FIFA Council.Chung was recently elected for his second term at the KFA, and is serving as chef de mission for South Korea at next month's Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics. The FIFA election is

July 26, 2016

Korean Olympic football striker diagnosed with bruised ribs

South Korean Olympic football striker Suk Hyun-jun has been diagnosed with bruised ribs following a recent practice match ahead of the Rio de Janeiro Games, the sport's national governing body said Tuesday.Suk's teammate, midfielder Lee Chan-dong, has a sprained right ankle, according to the Korea Football Association.The two players were injured during an unofficial practice match against Iraq in Sao Paulo on Sunday (local time). Suk left the game early in the match, and Lee was replaced just b

July 26, 2016

Olympic footballers kick off training in Brazil

The Korean men’s Olympic football team have started training in Brazil for the Rio de Janeiro Summer Games.The Korea Football Association said the Olympic team had tactical training and other exercises at a football field near Bourbon Atibaia Resort in Sao Paulo on Wednesday (local time).Fourteen players from the 18-man squad and the coaching staff arrived at their Sao Paulo base camp on Tuesday, after traveling from Korea through Frankfurt, Germany.The KFA said that among the four players who d

July 21, 2016

Korean football's oldest player retires at 46

Goalkeeper Kim Byung-ji, the oldest player ever in South Korean professional football, will finally hang up his boots.Kim, 46, announced his retirement via Facebook on Tuesday, saying he wants to put his 35-year playing career into his memory bank."I was really a happy player," Kim wrote. "Yes! I'm retiring. This is for another start (of my life)."Kim has been searching for a club after his contract with the Jeonnam Dragons in the top-flight K League Classic ended last year.He failed to sign wit

July 19, 2016

Ki Sung-yueng to rejoin Swansea after military training

South Korean midfielder Ki Sung-yueng will return to his Welsh club this month following the completion of his basic military training, his Seoul-based agency said Friday. C2 Global said Ki will go back to the English Premier League club Swansea City and join their team training in Britain late this month. The 27-year-old completed the four-week basic military training in Busan last Friday and has been shaping up for the new season through personal training, the agency added.In South Korea, male

July 15, 2016

Football coach gives up vacation to prep for World Cup qualifier

South Korean men's football team head coach Uli Stielike will not take a vacation this summer as he decided to prepare for the FIFA World Cup qualification starting in September, an official at the national football governing body said Wednesday. A Korea Football Association official said Stielike has decided to give up his summer vacation and will instead spend time checking on players in the country's pro football leagues. Both the top-tier K League Classic and second division K League Challen

July 15, 2016

Korean defender joins Chinese club coached by compatriot

South Korean defender Hong Jeong-ho has left the German Bundesliga to join a Chinese football club managed by his compatriot.Jiangsu Suning, currently second in the Chinese Super League, said on Thursday night via Weibo -- China's largest social networking service -- that they signed Hong from FC Augsburg. The details of his contract weren't announced.Hong will be coached by fellow South Korean Choi Yong-soo, who left South Korean outfit FC Seoul last month to join Jiangsu. Jiangsu said they are

July 15, 2016

FC Seoul looking for 1st win after coaching change

Korean football club FC Seoul will try to get their first win this week following a recent coaching change, though they will have to do so without their top scorer.Seoul are on a three-match losing streak in the first-tier K League Classic since head coach Choi Yong-soo left for Chinese club Jiangsu Suning late last month. After suffering a 2-1 defeat to the Pohang Steelers on June 25, Seoul's new boss Hwang Sun-hong took the helm. The five-time K League champions then fell 3-1 to Seongnam FC la

July 4, 2016

Football league delays meting out punishment on club over bribery scandal

The national pro football league said Thursday it will delay meting out punishment on Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors over a bribery scandal.The K League had been scheduled to discuss penalties for Jeonbuk on Friday, but it will do so after mid-August instead, according to Cho Nam-don, who heads the league's disciplinary committee.In May, local prosecutors said a Jeonbuk scout, identified only by his surname Cha, had been indicted on charges of bribing two referees in 2013. Cho said the league postponed

June 30, 2016