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Korea Herald
5 days ago
- Sport
- Korea Herald
S. Korea coach, player bracing for difficult match vs. Iraq with World Cup berth in sight
With South Korea closing in on a berth in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, head coach Hong Myung-bo is trying to get his charges prepared for a difficult away match against Iraq. South Korea, world No. 23, will take on 59th-ranked Iraq in their penultimate Group B match in the third round of the Asian World Cup qualifiers. The match kicks off at 9:15 p.m. Thursday at Basra International Stadium in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, or 3:15 a.m. Friday, South Korean time. South Korea are leading Group B with 16 points, three ahead of Jordan with two matches to go. The top two teams from each of the three groups in this round will punch their tickets to the World Cup, and South Korea will grab one out of Group B with at least a draw against Iraq this week. Despite the sizable gap between the two nations in the FIFA rankings, Hong predicted a tough challenge for his team. "I don't think we will have an easy match. There will be challenges in every aspect," Hong said at a prematch presser at Basra International Stadium on Wednesday, according to a video clip released by the Korea Football Association to the South Korean media Thursday morning here. "As their coach, I trust my players. They've done a great job so far, and I expect them to play well tomorrow too. We will try to prepare for the match so that we will be able to grab points." South Korea defeated Iraq 3-2 at home in their previous meeting in October 2024. Midfielder Hwang In-beom echoed Hong's sentiment at the presser, and he too voiced confidence in his team's ability to rise to the occasion. "We've been working hard for this match because our World Cup qualification is at stake," Hwang said. "We are feeling some pressure because we will have to play an away match against a good Iraqi team. But we've been training hard as a team, and if we can show that on the field, then I believe we will be able to come away with a good result." The Taegeuk Warriors have played three consecutive 1-1 draws, including two against underdogs Oman and Jordan at home in March, when they had a chance to clinch a World Cup spot in front of their own supporters.
Free Malaysia Today
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Free Malaysia Today
S. Korean FA says Son's European ‘milestone' shows country's strength
Tottenham's Son Heung-min became the first Asian player to captain a team to a European title yesterday. (AP pic) SEOUL : Son Heung-min 'showcased the strength' of South Korean football to the world by lifting the Europa League trophy with Tottenham, the country's FA said today. The 32-year-old forward became the first Asian player to captain a team to a European title when he helped Spurs beat Manchester United 1-0 in Bilbao yesterday. Korea Football Association president Chung Mong-gyu said he had 'stayed up through the early hours' watching the final and cheering the national team captain to a 'historic milestone'. 'This triumph once again showcases the strength of Korean football on the global stage,' Chung wrote in a statement. 'As always, thank you for bringing such big joy and inspiration to the people of our football-loving nation. 'I offer my heartfelt congratulations and look forward to seeing you continue to write new chapters in the history of Korean football.' Son lifted the trophy – the first of his career – with a South Korean flag wrapped around his waist. Son joined Spurs from German side Bayer Leverkusen in 2015. He was the Premier League's joint-top scorer in the 2021-22 season along with Liverpool's Mohamed Salah on 23 goals. He said after yesterday's triumph that he had felt the pressure to deliver Tottenham's first trophy since 2008 after a number of near misses. 'I wanted it so badly,' said an emotional Son. 'The last seven days I was dreaming about this game every single day. Finally it happened, I can rest easy.' Witness football history in Malaysia as Manchester United take on the Asean All-Stars – it's the clash you can't afford to miss. Book your seat now at before they're gone!
France 24
23-05-2025
- Sport
- France 24
Son's European 'milestone' shows South Korea strength
The 32-year-old forward became the first Asian player to captain a team to a European title when he helped Spurs beat Manchester United 1-0 in Bilbao on Wednesday. Korea Football Association president Chung Mong-gyu said he had "stayed up through the early hours" watching the final and cheering the national team captain to a "historic milestone". "This triumph once again showcases the strength of Korean football on the global stage," Chung wrote in a statement. "As always, thank you for bringing such big joy and inspiration to the people of our football-loving nation. "I offer my heartfelt congratulations and look forward to seeing you continue to write new chapters in the history of Korean football." Son lifted the trophy -- the first of his career -- with a South Korean flag wrapped around his waist. Son joined Spurs from German side Bayer Leverkusen in 2015. He was the Premier League's joint-top scorer in the 2021-22 season along with Liverpool's Mohamed Salah on 23 goals. He said after Wednesday's triumph that he had felt the pressure to deliver Tottenham's first trophy since 2008 after a number of near misses. "I wanted it so badly," said an emotional Son.
Korea Herald
31-03-2025
- Sport
- Korea Herald
Son Heung-min voted top S. Korean footballer for 2024
South Korea captain Son Heung-min has been voted the country's top football player for 2024. The Korea Football Association on Monday announced Son, also skipper for the Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, as its Male Player of the Year for 2024. The KFA launched its annual awards in 2010, and Son has now been named the top male player for a record eighth time. Son previously won it for 2013, 2014, 2017 and then every year from 2019 to 2022. Son, 32, is second on the South Korean men's scoring list with 51 goals, seven behind Cha Bum-kun, and is tied for third with 133 caps, three back of Cha and the current national team head coach, Hong Myung-bo. Seattle Reign FC midfielder Ji So-yun was voted the Female Player of the Year for 2024. She is the record holder for the top women's award, having now claimed it for the eighth time. Ji, 34, leads all South Korean female players with 163 caps and 72 goals. The award winners were voted on by football journalists and members of the KFA's technical development committee. Son collected 109 voting points to hold off Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae, the 2023 winner, by five points. Ji finished one point ahead of Suwon FC Women striker Kang Chae-rim at 62 points. Among other winners, Yang Min-hyeok of Queens Park Rangers (QPR) was voted the Male Young Player of the Year. Yang, 18, took the K League 1 by storm last year for Gangwon FC, winning the Young Player of the Year award and earning an MVP nomination. He signed for Tottenham last summer but was loaned to QPR in January. Kim Shin-ji of AS Roma was the Female Young Player of the Year. The 20-year-old midfielder joined the Italian side in February after starring for South Korea at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. The KFA had to scrap plans to hold the awards ceremony in January when its president election was postponed to February. (Yonhap)
South China Morning Post
01-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
South Korea in 5-way fight to stage football's Asian Cup and end 61-year hosting streak
South Korea's decision to enter the race for football's 2031 Asian Cup hosting rights looks set to reignite a bidding battle between the eastern powerhouse and influential Gulf states as the nation seeks to organise the tournament for the first time since 1960. Advertisement The Koreans announced their bid on Friday, confirming remarks by Korea Football Association president Chung Myung-gyu prior to his re-election that the country would seek once again to reclaim rights that have eluded it for decades. The deadline for expressions of interest passed on Friday night and Chung's administration, which recently faced down a scandal over the appointment of national team coaches, faces a five-way fight for hosting rights. South Korea's last bid came was a failed attempt to run the 2023 finals as a replacement host when China withdrew and it lost out to Qatar, which ended up staging the event in early 2024. South Korea's Son Heung-min is centre of attention at a training session last June. Photo: Xinhua With the United Arab Emirates hosting the 2019 edition and Saudi Arabia set to organise the next tournament in 2027, the prospect of four consecutive finals in the Middle East looms. Advertisement
