Ulsan Hyundai FC looking to keep 'double' bid alive at FA Cup

Having recently failed in their bid to win three major titles this year, South Korean football club Ulsan Hyundai FC will try to stay in the hunt for two trophies this week. Ulsan, currently in second place in the top-flight K League 1, will host the K League 2 club Jeonnam Dragons in the semifinals of the Korean FA Cup on Wednesday. The kickoff at Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan, some 415 kilometers southeast of Seoul, is 7 p.m. The other semifinal contest, between Gangwon FC and Daegu FC, wi

Oct. 26, 2021

S. Korea hold mighty US to scoreless draw in women's football friendly

Bending without breaking, South Korea held world No. 1 United States to a scoreless draw in the first of their two women's football friendlies on American soil. Goalkeeper Yoon Young-geul made key saves, and the visitors played some dogged defense against the American onslaught at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas, on Thursday (local time). The draw snapped the US home winning streak at 22 matches. The last time the US had failed to win at home was also against South Korea -- a 1-1

Oct. 22, 2021

No rest for weary Pohang Steelers ahead of crucial K League match

Pohang Steelers will have little time to celebrate a recent victory in a continental tournament, as they gear up for a crucial K League match on Sunday. Pohang knocked out defending champions Ulsan Hyundai FC on penalties to reach the final in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League on Wednesday. Come Sunday, though, Pohang will find themselves in survival mode in the domestic league, which will return to full action following an international break. Pohang, along with 11 other

Oct. 22, 2021

Deja vu all over again for Ulsan in crushing loss to Pohang at AFC Champions League

Before Ulsan Hyundai FC took on their regional rivals Pohang Steelers for a spot in the final of the top Asian club football tournament Wednesday night, few pundits and oddsmakers had predicted a loss by the mighty K League 1 leaders. After all, Ulsan had much more firepower and boasted superior depth at all positions. They hadn't lost in their past 17 matches in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League. And they were also the defending champions. Ulsan had already taken down an

Oct. 21, 2021

S. Korean regional derby set in AFC Champions League semifinals

For the second straight year, a South Korean team will vie for the championship trophy at Asia's top club football tournament. We will find out Wednesday night which team that will be. Two K League 1 clubs and regional rivals, Ulsan Hyundai FC and Pohang Steelers, will clash in the semifinals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League on Wednesday. The kickoff is 7 p.m. at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul. Ulsan won the 2020 AFC title and will

Oct. 18, 2021

Son Heung-min scores for Tottenham, quells COVID-19 speculation

After being subject to rumors about a possible COVID-19 infection over the weekend, Son Heung-min scored for Tottenham Hotspur in their latest victory. The South Korean star netted his team-leading fourth goal of the Premier League season in their 3-2 win over Newcastle United at St. James' Park in Newcastle, England, on Sunday (local time). Son is tied for fifth overall in the league in goals, three behind co-leaders, Mohamed Salah of Liverpool and Jamie Vardy of Leicester City. Son's goal w

Oct. 18, 2021

Pohang Steelers reach AFC Champions League semifinals

Pohang Steelers reached the semifinals of the top Asian club football tournament with a 3-0 victory over Nagoya Grampus on Sunday. Lim Sang-hyub grabbed a brace and Lee Seung-mo added another for Pohang's convincing win in the quarterfinals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul. This will be Pohang's first trip to the final four at the AFC competition since 2009, which is the last time they won the tournam

Oct. 17, 2021

S. Korea to release promotional tourism video featuring Son Heung-min

A video featuring football star Son Heung-min promoting South Korea as a tourist destination will be unveiled this week, the culture ministry said Sunday. The 80-second video with Son of Tottenham Hotspur is aimed at allowing viewers to feel South Korea's unique and attractive features so as to draw more overseas visitors to the country in the post-pandemic era. The video will be available on Monday on social media channels run by the Korea Tourism Organization, the ministry said, adding that

Oct. 17, 2021

S. Korea not about to change style for key World Cup qualifier vs. Iran

South Korea will face their biggest challenge yet in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday, when they visit Iran in their first away match of the ongoing phase. With Iran being the highest-ranked Asian team at No. 22, 14 spots above South Korea, this may call for some adjustments for the Taeguk Warriors. But South Korea head coach Paulo Bento isn‘t about to change the team’s overall approach. “What we know is that it will be a different gam

Oct. 11, 2021

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