Nat'l football coach taking beating for lack of tactical acumen

On the heels of yet another uninspired performance against a lower-ranked opponent, South Korean men's football head coach Uli Stielike finds himself in hot water again.South Korea dropped to China 1-0 Thursday in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, but as frustrating as it was, it wasn't so much the loss itself that has angered the football-crazed fan base here. Uli Stielike (left), head coach of the South Korean men's national football team, waits for a team bus at In

March 24, 2017

S. Korean football players' visit to NK not against sanctions

South Korea's plan to send female football players to Pyongyang for the AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifying matches does not violate international sanctions against North Korea, a government official said Friday.The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Group B qualifying games will be held in North Korea from April 3-11. South Korean players will have a match with their North Korean counterparts on April 7. This file photo taken on Feb. 29, 2016, shows a female football match between South and North

March 24, 2017

Uli Stielike safe as Korea football coach

Uli Stielike's job as the South Korean men's national football head coach is safe, despite a stunning loss to China in a World Cup qualifier, the sport's top national official said Friday.Chung Mong-gyu, head of the Korea Football Association, returned home with the rest of the team from Changsha, Hunan Province, early Friday morning on a red-eye flight, after South Korea suffered a 1-0 defeat to China in the final round of the Asian qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Uli Stielike, head

March 24, 2017

S. Korea suffers stunning 1-0 loss to China in World Cup qualifier

South Korea suffered a stunning 1-0 loss to China in the World Cup qualifying campaign on Thursday.South Korea surrendered the winner to Yu Dabao in the first half to pick up their second loss in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Both South Korea and China are in Group A, along with Iran, Uzbekistan, Qatar and Syria. (Yonhap)The defeat at Helong Stadium in Changsha, China's Hunan Province, leaves South Korea in danger of losing No. 2 spot in the group. The Taeguk Warr

March 23, 2017

Korea to face Honduras, Zambia, Ecuador in prep for FIFA U-20 World Cup

South Korea will host an international football tournament featuring Honduras, Zambia and Ecuador this week to fine-tune their preparations for the FIFA U-20 World Cup at home.The U-20 national team was assembled on Sunday and has been training at the National Football Center in Paju, just north of Seoul, for the four-nation invitational tournament slated from Saturday to March 29. In this photo taken on March 19, 2017, the players for the South Korean national U-20 football team exercise during

March 23, 2017

S. Korea asks NK to warrant football players' safety for Pyongyang matches

The government has requested that North Korea guarantee the safety of South Korean football players for the AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifying matches to be held in Pyongyang next month, Seoul's unification ministry said Tuesday.The Asian Football Confederation Group B qualifying games will be held in North Korea from April 3-11. South Korean players will have a match with their North Korean counterparts on April 7.This file photo taken on Feb. 29, 2016, shows a women's football match between Sout

March 21, 2017

Korea meet China in World Cup qualification amid high tensions

 South Korea will resume their qualifying campaign for the 2018 FIFA World Cup this week as they take on China on the road amid growing tensions between two countries.The Group A match in the final Asian qualification round for the 2018 World Cup will kick off Thursday at 7:35 p.m. (local time) at Helong Stadium in Changsha, south central China. A Chinese police officer watches a training session of the South Korean national football team at Hunan Provincial People's Stadium in Changsha, China,

March 21, 2017

Korean midfielder to fall back on fond memories for World Cup qualifier vs. China

South Korean midfielder Koo Ja-cheol said Monday he will always have fond memories of playing against China to fall back on, ahead of the two teams' World Cup qualifier here later in the week.Koo was picked to man the midfield against China in Group A showdown of the final Asian World Cup qualifying round at Helong Stadium in Changsha, south central China, on Thursday. South Korean football players Ji Dong-won (left) and Koo Ja-cheol pose for photos after their press conference at Kempinski Hote

March 20, 2017

Korean winger has high expectations for nat'l football team debut

South Korean footballer Heo Yong-joon said Monday he has high expectations for the national team debut in the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers this month. Heo was a surprise pick by head coach Uli Stielike who announced his squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against China and Syria last week. South Korea will face China on the road on Thursday, before hosting Syria five days later for their Group A contests in the final Asian qualifying round.  South Korean footballer Heo Yong-joon s

March 20, 2017

Korean striker confident of scoring goals in World Cup qualifier vs. China

South Korean striker Lee Jeong-hyeop said Monday he is confident of scoring goals in the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifier against China with his fine league form. Lee is one of the 23 players selected for South Korea's 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against China and Syria this month. The Taeguk Warriors will first take on China on the road on Thursday, before hosting Syria on March 28 in the final Asian qualifying round for the FIFA World Cup in Russia. Sixteen players already departed for Cha

March 20, 2017

Korea confirms schedule of U-20 int'l football tournament ahead of World Cup

South Korea will play Honduras first in an international football tournament created as a test event for the upcoming U-20 World Cup, the local organizing committee of the FIFA competition said Friday.The South Korean organizers previously said they will host the four-nation football tournament this month to test their readiness ahead of the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which will run from May 20 to June 11. The invitational tournament features host South Korea, Zambia, Honduras and Ecuador, all partici

March 17, 2017

German set to become longest-serving nat'l football team coach for Korea

Former German international coach Uli Stielike is set to become the longest-serving head coach for the South Korean men's national football team following the FIFA World Cup qualifier against China next week. Stielike has been leading South Korea since Sept. 24, 2014. He will surpass former Huh Jung-moo's record of 911 days should he retain his job until next Friday, one day after South Korea squares off with China in the final Asian qualification round for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Huh, now depu

March 17, 2017

Korea to open camp Sunday in prep for U-20 World Cup at home

South Korea will open camp this weekend in preparation for the FIFA U-20 World Cup at home.Head coach Shin Tae-yong will assemble his U-20 players on Sunday at the National Football Center in Paju, north of Seoul in Gyeonggi Province. They will also host a four-nation invitational tournament from March 25 to 30. The draw for the FIFA U-20 World Cup takes place in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on March 15, 2017. (Yonhap)The U-20 World Cup will take place from May 20 to June 11 in six cities. In a dra

March 16, 2017

Host Korea drawn into tough group with Argentina, England, Guinea at U-20 World Cup

Host South Korea has been drawn into a tough group for the upcoming FIFA U-20 World Cup.South Korea on Wednesday was paired with six-time tournament champions Argentina, European powerhouse England and African side Guinea in Group A at the draw ceremony for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Suwon, some 30 kilometers south of Seoul. As the host, South Korea had already been seeded at the top of Group A.  South Korea will stage the FIFA U-20 World Cup from May 20 to June 11 in six cities: Cheonan, Daejeo

March 15, 2017

Korean U-20 football coach believes Maradona gave 'positive energy' ahead of group draw

South Korea's under-20 national football team head coach Shin Tae-yong said Tuesday he believes that Argentine football legend Diego Maradona provided "positive energy" to his team ahead of the group draw for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Shin joined Maradona and Argentine football star Pablo Aimar to play a special 5-on-5 mini football match at Hwaseong Haenggung Palace in Suwon, some 30 kilometers south of Seoul, to promote the U-20 World Cup. South Korea is the host of the U-20 World Cup that will

March 14, 2017

AFC asked to protect Korean players, fans in World Cup qualifier in China

South Korea's football governing body said Tuesday it has officially asked the Asian Football Confederation and its Chinese counterpart to prepare safety measures for Korean players and fans in the upcoming World Cup qualifying match in China. The Korea Football Association said the AFC and the Chinese Football Association will be asked to provide protections for Korean players and fans in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier slated for March 23 in Changsha, China.The match between South Korea and

March 14, 2017

Host Korea avoids powerhouses in group stage for FIFA U-20 World Cup

Host South Korea has avoided powerhouses in the group stage for this year's FIFA U-20 World Cup.FIFA on Tuesday unveiled its four "pots" for the quadrennial event set to open on May 20 in South Korea, with six host cities staging matches for 24 nations.Countries in the same pot will not be drawn into the same group. The 24 countries will be paired into six groups, and the top two teams from each, plus the four best third-place nations, will reach the knockout stage.As the host, South Korea has b

March 14, 2017

Diego Maradona entertains Korean fans; asks for more support for U-20 World Cup

Argentine football legend Diego Maradona showed off his skills and entertained delighted South Korean fans in a special football match here Tuesday.Maradona landed in South Korea on Monday with fellow Argentine football star Pablo Aimar to attend the drawing ceremony for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. The U-20 World Cup, featuring 24 teams, will be played from May 20 to June 11 in six South Korean cities: Cheonan, Daejeon, Incheon, Jeju, Jeonju and Suwon. Argentine football legend Diego Maradona celeb

March 14, 2017

Two Korean clubs aim for 1st win at ACL this week

Two South Korean football clubs will aim to collect their first win at the 2017 Asian Football Confederation Champions League this week.FC Seoul and Suwon Samsung Bluewings will resume their AFC Champions League group stage action, hoping to end their winless drought. Seoul are the defending champions of the top flight K League Classic, while Suwon are the reigning Korea Football Association Cup winners. (Yonhap)They are two of the four South Korean clubs at this year's ACL, along with Jeju Unit

March 13, 2017