Korea football coach hints at tenuous job status following World Cup qualifying loss

South Korea national football coach Uli Stielike said Wednesday his future on the bench is "not in my hands" after a stunning defeat to Qatar in the FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, hinting at his tenuous job status.South Korea fell 3-2 to Qatar in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 World Cup at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on Tuesday. With only two matches remaining in the final round, South Korea did maintain second place in Group A, the last spot for automatic qualification,

June 14, 2017

Tottenham's Son Heung-min fractures forearm in Korea's World Cup qualifier

DOHA -- Tottenham Hotspur's South Korean attacker Son Heung-min suffered a broken right forearm during a FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Doha on Tuesday, a major setback for a team in a dogfight for survival.Son injured his arm against Qatar at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, where South Korea lost 3-2.With South Korea trailing 1-0, Son got up in the air to battle defender Mohammed Musa for the ball in the 30th minute but landed awkwardly on his right arm. He stayed down on the pitch for a few minu

June 14, 2017

S. Korea coach vows to end away drought in World Cup qualifier

South Korea men's football head coach Uli Stielike has said his team is ready to end an ongoing away drought in the World Cup qualifying stage this week.South Korea will take on Qatar at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on Tuesday in a key qualifying match for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The kickoff is 10 p.m. Tuesday (local time) and 4 a.m.Wednesday in Seoul.At a press conference held on the eve of the contest, Stielike said his players are prepared for a victory. Uli Stielike, head coach of the S

June 13, 2017

FIFA chief says Korea's U-20 World Cup 'successful'

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Monday South Korea hosted a successful Under-20 World Cup, congratulating local organizers and thanking people for their support for the men's youth football tournament.South Korea staged the U-20 World Cup from May 20 to last Sunday in six cities and welcomed 24 teams. Infantino landed in South Korea on Saturday to watch the final between England and Venezuela, and to meet with football officials here."It was fantastic," Infantino said of South Korea's first

June 12, 2017

Korea faces roadblocks in bid to bring FIFA World Cup to NE Asia

South Korea will face roadblocks in its bid to bring the world's greatest football competition to Northeast Asia.In his meeting with FIFA chief Gianni Infantino on Monday, President Moon Jae-in suggested forming a regional bloc with communist North Korea and other Northeast Asian countries to jointly host the FIFA World Cup in 2030.According to the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae, Infantino said there will likely be "difficulties," but also said such a vision itself "can be a very powerful mes

June 12, 2017

England edge past Venezuela to win FIFA U-20 World Cup in Korea

SUWON -- England won the FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea after edging out Venezuela 1-0 in the final on Sunday.Dominic Calvert-Lewin's first-half strike lifted England to their first U-20 football title in their 11th tournament appearance. It was also England's first title in a FIFA men's competition since their senior team's victory at the 1966 World Cup at home.England's previous best U-20 World Cup finish was in 1993 when they finished third in Australia.England`s under-20 national footbal

June 11, 2017

Korean football club Jeju United to appeal AFC suspensions

South Korean football club Jeju United said Friday they will appeal penalties handed down by the Asian Football Confederation following their on-field brawl against a Japanese team last month.The K League Classic club said the AFC suspended Cho Yong-hyung for six months with a fine of $20,000, Baek Dong-gyu for three months with a fine of $15,000, and Kweon Han-jin for two matches with a fine of $1,000 for their involvement in a brawl during the AFC Champions League (ACL) round of 16 second leg

June 9, 2017

Midfielder says back four suits S. Korea better than back three

South Korean midfielder Lee Jae-sung is not a tactician, but as a player who actually performs on the pitch, he thinks a four-man defense suits the national team better than a back three system.South Korea, led by head coach Uli Stielike, were held to a scoreless draw by Iraq in their friendly match here Wednesday. The match was a tune-up for South Korea's crucial FIFA World Cup qualifier against Qatar in Doha next Tuesday. South Korean midfielder Lee Jae-sung speaks to reporters at Emirates Clu

June 9, 2017

FIFA president to visit Korea for U-20 World Cup final

FIFA President Gianni Infantino will visit South Korea for the final of the ongoing U-20 World Cup, local organizers here said Friday.The organizing committee, led by Korea Football Association President Chung Mong-gyu, said Infantino will attend the final between England and Venezuela at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, some 45 kilometers south of Seoul, on Sunday. This will be Infantino's second trip to South Korea since he became the world football chief in February 2016. In this file photo

June 9, 2017

Int'l footballers' union executive says S. Korean players need voice

South Korea's pro football players need to have a voice and they deserve to have a representative organization here, a high-ranking official at the international pro footballers' union said Thursday.Theo van Seggelen, secretary-general at FIFPro, said South Korea will officially become a member of the global footballers' association in its general congress in Cairo in December. At its two-day Asia-Oceania Congress in Seoul, FIFPro officials discussed ways to help South Korean footballers set up

June 8, 2017

Korean football coach looks back at U-20 World Cup exit

SEONGNAM -- Shin Tae-yong, who coached South Korea at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, doesn't drink coffee these days because he just can't sleep well even without caffeine.South Korea were eliminated in the round of 16 at the U-20 World Cup at home after losing to Portugal 3-1 on May 30. Shin, who took over the U-20 side in December, still can't get the defeat out of his head.South Korea's under-20 national football team head coach Shin Tae-yong gives orders to the players during the FIFA U-20 World C

June 8, 2017

Coach of reigning Korean football champs to coach All-Star Game in Vietnam

The head coach of the reigning South Korean professional football champions will lead the All-Star squad in mid-season festivities, the league office said Thursday.The K League, operator of the national pro competitions, said Hwang Sun-hong, bench boss for FC Seoul, will coach the K League All-Stars against the Vietnamese national team in their match at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi on July 29. In this file photo taken on May 10, 2017, FC Seoul head coach Hwang Sun-hong awaits the start of t

June 8, 2017

Korea football coach defends his choice of tactics in Iraq friendly

RAS AL KHAIMAH, United Arab Emirates -- South Korea football coach Uli Stielike on Thursday defended his choice of using experimental tactics against Iraq in a friendly match that ended with a scoreless draw.South Korea, ranked No. 43 in the latest FIFA rankings, were held to a 0-0 draw by No. 120 Iraq in a friendly match at Emirates Club Stadium in Ras Al Khaimah, the United Arab Emirates, on Wednesday. This match was a tune-up for South Korea's upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifier against Qatar i

June 8, 2017

Korea, Iraq play to scoreless draw in football friendly

RAS AL KHAIMAH, United Arab Emirates -- South Korea played to a scoreless draw with Iraq in a men's football friendly match here on Wednesday. South Korea tested their players and tactics against Iraq at Emirates Club Stadium in Ras Al Khaimah, the United Arab Emirates, but failed to collect a victory with no shots on target. This match was a tune-up for South Korea's upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifier against Qatar in Doha next Tuesday.South Korean forward Son Heung-min (right) takes a shot agai

June 8, 2017

Korea to have pro footballers' union

South Korea's professional football players will organize a union to defend their rights and enhance working conditions, a lawyer helping the establishment of the union said Wednesday.Park Ji-hoon, a lawyer who also works for local research group Center for Sports Culture, said South Korea's professional players union will get an approval from FIFPro, the international pro footballers' union, on Thursday at its Asia-Oceania Congress in Seoul. (Yonhap)FIFPro represents more than 65,000 players wo

June 7, 2017

Korean special forces in UAE to cheer for nat'l football team in friendly vs. Iraq

South Korea's special forces troops in the United Arab Emirates will cheer for the national football team against Iraq in a friendly match here on Wednesday.South Korea, led by head coach Uli Stielike, will take on Iraq at the 5,200-capacity Emirates Club Stadium in Ras Al Khaimah at 9 p.m. Wednesday (local time), or 2 a.m. Thursday in Seoul. This match is a tune-up for South Korea's upcoming World Cup qualifier against Qatar in Doha next Tuesday. South Korea's national football team coaching st

June 7, 2017

Jeju defender to visit Japanese football club to apologize for on-field violence

A South Korean defender will visit a Japanese football club later this week to apologize for his violent actions during the Asian Football Confederation Champions League match last month, his club said Wednesday.Jeju United said Baek Dong-gyu will visit Urawa Red Diamonds to personally apologize to Yuki Abe, whom he elbowed during a melee in the AFC Champions Leagued round of 16 second leg at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, last Wednesday. (Yonhap)"Baek wanted to meet Abe in person to apologi

June 7, 2017

Korea football coach looking to get boost of confidence ahead of World Cup qualifier

RAS AL KHAIMAH, United Arab Emirates -- South Korea football coach Uli Stielike will try to get a boost of confidence and find the best combination for a crucial FIFA World Cup qualifier next week when his team faces Iraq in a friendly in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday.South Korea will take on Iraq at the 5,200-capacity Emirates Club Stadium in Ras Al Khaimah at 9 p.m. Wednesday (local time), or 2 a.m. Thursday in Seoul. This match is a tune-up for South Korea's upcoming World Cup qualifi

June 7, 2017

Nat'l football team baffled by Qatar's regional isolation

RAS AL KHAIMAH, United Arab Emirates -- South Korea's national football team are having trouble finding the quickest way to reach Qatar amid a diplomatic rift in the Gulf region, an official from the national football governing body here said Tuesday.South Korea, led by head coach Uli Stielike, will take on Qatar in Doha next Tuesday for the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Before the crucial World Cup qualifier, South Korea are set to face Iraq for a tune-up in the Unit

June 7, 2017