South Korea interim coach Robert Moreno will announce his squad Wednesday for the national team's final friendlies of the year, with attention focused on his choices ahead of next month's Middle East trip.
Moreno will hold a news conference at Korea Football Park in Cheonan to unveil the squad for matches against Saudi Arabia and Qatar in Doha on Nov. 13 and 17.
National team rosters are usually announced on the Monday a week before an international window, but Moreno will reveal his list four days earlier than usual.
He plans to leave for Europe immediately afterward to watch South Korean players in club action and assess their form and fitness.
Moreno is also expected to meet Kim Min-jae of Bayern Munich, Hwang In-beom of Porto and Hwang Hee-chan of Schalke, three players who were involved in controversy during the September-October international window over tensions surrounding captain Son Heung-min.
All four players remain important members of the national team and are considered likely to be included, although Kim's fitness is a concern.
Kim started Bayern's 2-2 Champions League draw against Arsenal on Oct. 22 but was substituted at halftime and then missed Sunday's Bundesliga match against Freiburg.
After completing his European trip, Moreno plans to travel directly to Doha. He is not expected to visit Los Angeles, where Son plays for LAFC.
Competition for places is expected to be tighter than during the September-October window.
Moreno selected 30 players for four home friendlies during that period, but with only two away matches next month, the squad is expected to be reduced to around 26 players.
That will leave fewer places available just as several players return to contention.
Eom Ji-sung of Swansea City and Bae Jun-ho of Stoke City, both members of South Korea's gold medal-winning team at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, are among those pushing for selection after missing the previous senior squad while on Asian Games duty.
Both had been regular senior national team selections and were part of South Korea's squad at the 2026 World Cup.
The November friendlies could also be Moreno's final matches in charge.
His contract as interim coach runs through November, although there had been a possibility of an extension with the 2027 Asian Cup scheduled to begin Jan. 7.
Uncertainty over the tournament, amid security concerns in host Saudi Arabia, and a possible Korea Football Association presidential by-election could affect whether Moreno remains in charge or a permanent coach is appointed.
(This article was produced with the assistance of AI. — Ed.)
