S. Korea looking to end drought vs. Iran in away World Cup qualifying match

Regardless of what their head coach says, South Korean players should know this will not be just another match. South Korea will face Iran in their first away match of the final Asian qualification round for the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday. The kickoff at Azadi Stadium in Tehran is 5 p.m. (local time), or 10:30 p.m. in Seoul. At No. 22, Iran are the highest-ranked team from Asia, 14 spots above South Korea. Iran are also leading Group A of the ongoing phase with three straight wins, having

Oct. 11, 2021

Nat'l football captain Son Heung-min hopes for fans' return

As he reported to the national football team's training camp Tuesday ahead of two World Cup qualifiers, captain Son Heung-min had just one wish. "I'd like to play in front of fans," the Tottenham Hotspur star said after arriving at the National Football Center (NFC) in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, in a video clip shared by the Korea Football Association (KFA) Tuesday. Son won't get that wish this time -- at least not at home. South Korea will host Syria at Ansan Wa Stadium in Ansan, Gyeo

Oct. 5, 2021

[Newsmaker] Park Ji-sung asks United supporters to stop singing his fan chant

South Korean soccer icon Park Ji-sung called on Manchester United fans to stop singing a song about him, during an interview with the team’s podcast released Sunday. Park recalled hearing his song, which includes a disparaging joke about Koreans eating dog meat, and shared his mixed feelings. “Having a fan chant is meaningful for the player. This is something that I am very proud of. But when I heard the lyrics, I was uncomfortable,” said Park, who joined Manchester United in

Oct. 4, 2021

Injured Son Heung-min to miss Tottenham's upcoming continental match

Tottenham Hotspur's South Korean star Son Heung-min will miss the club's continental match this week with a leg injury sustained on recent international duty. Tottenham will face the French club Stade Rennais FC in Rennes, France, on Thursday to open Group G action at the UEFA Europa Conference League. After arriving in France on Wednesday, Tottenham head coach Nuno Espirito Santo told reporters that Son didn't travel with the Premier League club. Son was one of three Tottenham players missing i

Sept. 16, 2021

Daegu FC eliminated in round of 16 at AFC Champions League

Daegu FC crashed out of Asia's top club football competition on Tuesday, as their first trip to the knockout stage lasted just one match. Daegu fell to Nagoya Grampus 4-2 at Toyota Stadium in Toyota, Japan, in the round of 16 at the Asian Football Confederation Champions League. Jakub Swierczok scored a hat trick for the winning side, with Shinnosuke Nakatani scoring the other goal for the Japanese club. For Daegu FC, Cesinha and Edgar had a goal apiece. This was Daegu's first appearance in

Sept. 14, 2021

K League-leading Ulsan set to begin quest for 2nd straight Asian club title

Ulsan Hyundai FC, currently leading the top South Korean football league, will open their bid for a second straight continental title this week. Ulsan will be among four K League 1 clubs to play a round of 16 matches at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League on Tuesday and Wednesday. Ulsan, the 2020 champions, will host Kawasaki Frontale at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan, 415 kilometers southeast of Seoul. Before that, Daegu FC will play Nagoya Grampus at T

Sept. 13, 2021

Hwang Hee-chan scores in Premier League debut for Wolverhampton

  South Korean forward Hwang Hee-chan has scored in his Premier League debut for Wolverhampton Wanderers, wasting little time to make a strong first impression. The 25-year-old forward netted Wolves' second goal of their 2-0 victory over Watford at Vicarage Road in Watford, England, on Saturday (local time). This was Wolves' first victory of the season in their fourth match and also their first two goals of the campaign. Hwang is the 14th South Korean to play in the Premier League and seve

Sept. 12, 2021

S. Korean captain Son Heung-min to miss World Cup qualifier vs. Lebanon with leg injury

South Korean captain Son Heung-min was ruled out of a World Cup qualifying match against Lebanon on Tuesday with a leg injury, a devastating blow to the team already struggling to find offense. The Korea Football Association said Son experienced discomfort in his right leg after Monday's practice, and was later diagnosed with strained right calf. The KFA added that the decision to keep the Tottenham Hotspur star out of Tuesday's match was reached for precautionary reasons. The kickoff against

Sept. 8, 2021

S. Korea chasing 1st win of final World Cup qualifying round vs. Lebanon

There is no time to mope or dwell on what could have been. After a disappointing, scoreless draw against Iraq to open the final Asian qualifying campaign for the 2022 FIFA World Cup last Thursday, South Korea will pursue their first win of the phase against Lebanon on Tuesday. The kickoff for the teams' second Group A match is 8 p.m. at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, 45 kilometers south of Seoul. Lebanon also had a 0-0 draw in their first match Thursday against the United Arab Emirates in D

Sept. 5, 2021

Iraq coach praises S. Korean football's growth, vows tough fight in World Cup qualifier

  It has been 15 years since Dick Advocaat last coached the South Korean men's national football team. And the 73-year-old Dutchman finds himself on his old stomping grounds this month, not to have any reunion with old pals, but to prepare for a battle against his former team with a World Cup berth at stake.    Advocaat will make his Iraq coaching debut at 8 p.m. Thursday against South Korea in the third round of the Asian qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. It will be the f

Sept. 1, 2021

Nat'l women's football roster announced for Asian Cup qualifiers

The South Korean squad for the upcoming qualifiers for Asia's top women's football tournament was unveiled Tuesday, highlighted by a trio of veterans plying their trade in England. The Korea Football Association (KFA) announced a 23-player squad for head coach Colin Bell ahead of the qualifying tournament for the 2022 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Asian Cup. South Korea will be in Group E against Mongolia and Uzbekistan, and only the winner of the group will reach the Women's Asia

Aug. 31, 2021

S. Korean midfielder Lee Kang-in joins RCD Mallorca

Moving from one Spanish club to another, South Korea international Lee Kang-in has joined RCD Mallorca. RCD Mallorca announced Monday (local time) that Lee, 20, has agreed to a four-year contract that will keep him on the club's namesake island through 2025. Lee spent the past 10 years with Valencia CF, all the way from their youth academy to their first team. The midfielder had been rumored to be on his way out of Valencia for days, if not weeks. Spanish media reported earlier that Valencia

Aug. 31, 2021

Tottenham's Son Heung-min quells injury concerns with 2nd goal of season

With his second goal in three Premier League matches in the young season, Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur has quieted any lingering injury concerns. Son's first-half free kick stood as the winner for Tottenham in their 1-0 victory over Watford at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Sunday (local time). Son also became the first Asian player in Premier League history to reach the 200th match milestone. Tottenham now sit atop the Premier League tables with three straight wins, all of them

Aug. 30, 2021

S. Korea football coach focusing on controllable ahead of World Cup qualifiers

No football coach is a fan of time-wasting tactics by opponents, and South Korea boss Paulo Bento has also publicly voiced his displeasure over them. But with his team likely to get a healthy dose of those frustrating antics in the upcoming World Cup qualifying round, Bento wants to make sure his players aren't distracted by them. South Korea will face five Middle Eastern opponents, Iran, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Syria and Lebanon, in Group A of the third Asian qualifying round fo

Aug. 23, 2021

Son Heung-min called up for World Cup qualifiers amid injury concerns

Tottenham Hotspur's South Korean star Son Heung-min was selected to the national team Monday ahead of two World Cup qualifying matches despite whispers of a possible injury. Head coach Paulo Bento picked the longtime national team captain, along with 25 other players for World Cup qualifiers against Iraq and Lebanon at home next month. South Korea will first host Iraq at 8 p.m. on Sept. 2 at Seoul World Cup Stadium in the nation's capital. Then on Sept. 7, South Korea will face Lebanon at 8 p.

Aug. 23, 2021

Son Heung-min to stay on bench at start of Tottenham's continental match

South Korean football fans should adjust their alarm clocks for Friday morning. Tottenham Hotspur and their South Korean star Son Heung-min are visiting Portugal this week to play FC Pacos de Ferreira in the first of two playoff matches for the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League. The kickoff at Estadio Capital do Movel is 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the club's namesake Portuguese town, or 3:30 a.m. Friday in South Korea. Tottenham head coach Nuno Espirito Santo tipped his hand during his premat

Aug. 19, 2021

S. Korea to face top-ranked US in women's football friendlies in Oct.

The South Korean women's national football team will play a pair of friendlies against the world No. 1 United States on the road in October, the sport's national federation announced Thursday. The Korea Football Association (KFA) said the first match between the two countries will kick off at 7 p.m. on Oct. 21 at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas. That's 9 a.m. on Oct. 22 (Korean time). The second match will be at 7 p.m. on Oct. 26 at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota, or 9 a.m.

Aug. 19, 2021

Long week ahead for K League clubs playing rescheduled matches during pandemic

There are many ways in which the coronavirus pandemic has changed sports, not the least of which is unexpected disruption to playing schedules. Four clubs in the K League 1 are staring at a long week, as they play rescheduled matches on Wednesday following bouts with COVID-19, and then have to return to the pitch on the weekend for regularly-scheduled contests. Incheon United will host Seongnam FC at 7 p.m. Wednesday, while FC Seoul will bring home Jeju United at 7:30 p.m. on the same day. Th

Aug. 17, 2021

Son Heung-min named to Premier League's Team of the Week

Fresh off an impressive goal against the champions Manchester City in his club's season opener, Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur has been selected to the Premier League's Team of the Week. Alan Shearer, the league's all-time leading scorer, named Son as one of his three forwards on his weekly All-Star squad Monday (England local time), flanked by Mohamed Salah of Liverpool and Richarlison of Everton. Son scored Spur's lone goal in the 55th minute of their 1-0 victory over Man City at Tottenh

Aug. 17, 2021

Title race heats up while undefeated streaks end in K League

By notching their third straight victory at home over the weekend, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors have made the battle for the South Korean football title more interesting than it should be. By beating FC Seoul 3-2 on Sunday at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul, Jeonbuk improved to 42 points after 22 matches. Thanks to Han Kyo-won's two-goal effort, Jeonbuk sit three points back of the K League-leading Ulsan Hyundai FC but also have two matches in hand. Ulsan only manag

Aug. 16, 2021