National football team defender Kim Jin-su likely out 2 months with orbital fracture

Veteran South Korean left back Kim Jin-su will be sidelined for about two months after suffering an orbital fracture during a friendly match against El Salvador on Tuesday. Kim sustained the facial injury in an inadvertent collision with teammate Lee Jae-sung late in the first half at Daejeon World Cup Stadium in the central city of Daejeon. Kim briefly moved to the sidelines to get treatment and came back on, before being subbed out in the 58th minute. Kim's face was badly swollen by then,

June 21, 2023

S. Korean intl. Cho Gue-sung itching for move to Europe

After basking in unexpected stardom on the heels of his breakout performance at the FIFA World Cup last fall, South Korean striker Cho Gue-sung fielded offers from European clubs for the winter transfer window. Cho ultimately stayed put with his domestic club, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. He wrapped up his first scoring title in the K League 1 in 2022, further cementing his status as the next big thing coming out of South Korea. By foregoing a chance to move to Europe while the iron was hot, Cho was

June 21, 2023

Klinsmann sold on future of S. Korean football

While coaching the senior men's national football team for South Korea, Jurgen Klinsmann hasn't lost the sight of the pipeline that will be feeding him youthful talent in the near future. The German tactician doesn't just want to wait around for young athletes to develop, though. He wants to be involved in their progress. At a press conference Monday, the eve of South Korea's friendly against El Salvador in the central city of Daejeon, Klinsmann spoke of how "excited&quo

June 20, 2023

S. Korea coach, captain praying for safe release of player held in China

The head coach and the captain of the South Korean men's national football team said Monday they are praying for a safe and quick release of Son Jun-ho, an international veteran placed under formal arrest in China. "We all feel for Jun-ho. We all pray for him and his family that his situation gets resolved as quickly as possible," head coach Jurgen Klinsmann said at a press conference held on the eve of South Korea's match against El Salvador. "We hope that we get him ba

June 19, 2023

Lineup experimentation likely to continue for S. Korea vs. El Salvador

Handed a depleted roster with a few key players out due to injuries and other circumstances, South Korea men's football head coach Jurgen Klinsmann had little choice but to tinker with his lineup and even formation in a 1-0 loss to Peru on Friday. With no reinforcements on the way, Klinsmann will likely continue with his experimentation in South Korea's next friendly match, against world No. 75 El Salvador, kicking off at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Daejeon World Cup Stadium in Daejeon, some 140 k

June 18, 2023

Struggling K League club Gangwon FC replace head coach

Stuck in the relegation zone for most of the ongoing K League 1 season, Gangwon FC made a head coaching change Thursday. Gangwon announced they have parted ways with head coach Choi Yong-soo and replaced him with Yoon Jong-hwan. "We felt this was time for a change and a fresh start," Gangwon said in a statement, adding that Choi had met with team CEO Kim Byung-ji on Wednesday night to offer his resignation. With the K League 1 currently on an international break, Gangwon FC find themse

June 15, 2023

Klinsmann takes new-look team in pursuit of 1st win as S. Korea head coach

Jurgen Klinsmann will be hoping the third time will be the charm, as he takes his third crack at winning his first match as head coach of the South Korean men's national football team this week. South Korea, ranked 27th, will host 21st-ranked Peru at Busan Asiad Main Stadium in the southeastern city of Busan at 8 p.m. Friday. It will be the first of two friendlies for South Korea this month, as they will face El Salvador in Daejeon, some 160 kilometers south of Seoul, next Tuesday. In Klins

June 14, 2023

Son Heung-min questionable for friendly vs. Peru following sports hernia surgery

South Korean captain Son Heung-min is questionable for an upcoming friendly match against Peru after undergoing sports hernia surgery about two weeks ago, a national team official said Tuesday. According to the official for the Korea Football Association, Son had surgery after returning home upon completing the Premier League season at Tottenham Hotspur on May 30. "It's been about two weeks and he's focusing on recovery," the official said. "We'll have to wait and s

June 13, 2023

Fixtures set for Seoul visit by Man City, Atletico Madrid

Fixtures for the summer Seoul visit by Manchester City and Atletico Madrid were set Tuesday. The Korea Professional League and the South Korean streaming service Coupang Play jointly announced that the two European giants will clash at 8 p.m. on July 30 at Seoul World Cup Stadium. Before that, at 8 p.m. on July 27, Atletico Madrid will take on "Team K League," made up of stars from the domestic circuit. The K League will finalize the All-Star squad sometime in July. Plans for exhibitio

June 13, 2023

S. Korean football club Ulsan apologize for players' racist comments toward Thai player

South Korean football club Ulsan Hyundai FC issued an apology on Monday for their players' racist comments made online toward a Thai player. Ulsan, the defending K League 1 champions, took to social media to apologize to fans and to the Thai player in question, Sasalak Haiprakhon, for "inappropriate words and action" by some of their players. The club said they will soon open disciplinary proceedings. The comments in question were made on the Instagram page for Ulsan defender Lee

June 12, 2023

S. Korea captain thanks teammates for sacrifice at U-20 World Cup

As South Korea's captain at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina, midfielder Lee Seung-won led with his words and deeds. Lee was South Korea's lone scorer in their 3-1 loss to Israel in the third-place match at La Plata Stadium in La Plata. He finished with team highs of three goals and four assists. The combined total of seven is the highest ever by a South Korean player at a male FIFA tournament. And at every turn throughout the tournament, Lee tried to deflect the spotlight from him

June 12, 2023

S. Korea finish 4th at FIFA U-20 World Cup

South Korea finished in fourth place at the FIFA U-20 World Cup following a 3-1 loss to Israel in the third-place match Sunday. The teams each had a goal in the first half, before Israel struck twice in the second half to grab third place at La Plata Stadium in La Plata, eastern Argentina. South Korea lost to Italy 2-1 in the semifinals Thursday and came up short in a bid to salvage one last victory to cap off a surprising run. This was South Korea's second straight top-four finish at the U

June 12, 2023

S. Korea captain Lee Seung-won awarded Bronze Ball at U-20 World Cup

South Korea captain Lee Seung-won was awarded the Bronze Ball at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina on Sunday as the third-best player of the competition. Lee led South Korea with three goals and four assists, helping the unheralded team finish in fourth place. Earlier Sunday, South Korea lost to Israel in the third-place match by 3-1, with Lee scoring the team's only goal on a penalty kick. Lee is the third South Korean to win an individual award at a FIFA men's tournament. Former s

June 12, 2023

Man City beats Inter Milan 1-0 to win first Champions League title and complete 3-trophy sweep

ISTANBUL — Manchester City won the Champions League title for the first time by beating Inter Milan 1-0 in Istanbul’s Ataturk Olimpiyat Stadium on Saturday. Rodri struck in the 68th minute to see the Premier League champions and FA Cup winners complete a treble of trophies this season. "Today we made history," City captain Ilkay Gundogan said. "We knew everyone was talking about the treble. The pressure was there but this team is built to handle the pressure in the b

June 11, 2023

S. Korea coach wants to do Asia proud at U-20 World Cup

With his upstart South Korean team about to close out the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina, head coach Kim Eun-jung said Saturday he wants to make the continent of Asia proud of his players. South Korea's final song in the U-20 tournament will come against Israel in the third place match here in La Plata, eastern Argentina, starting at 2:30 p.m. Sunday local time, or 2:30 a.m. Monday in Seoul time. It's a matchup of two teams that weren't expected to come this far in the tournamen

June 11, 2023

S. Korea falls to Italy in FIFA U-20 World Cup semifinals

South Korea lost to Italy 2-1 in the semifinals of the FIFA U-20 World Cup on Thursday, as they fell one win shy of a second straight trip to the championship match. Simone Pafundi scored a free kick goal to break the deadlock in the 86th minute at La Plata Stadium in La Plata, eastern Argentina. South Korean captain Lee Seung-won had the team's lone goal on a first-half penalty. Coached by Kim Eun-jung, South Korea will take on Israel in the third-place match, back in La Plata, at 2:30 p.m

June 9, 2023

U-20 World Cup squad captain flattered with comparison to 2019 hero

On a South Korean team at the FIFA U-20 World Cup with few, if any, household names, captain Lee Seung-won has emerged as an unlikely offensive star. Lee has registered a goal and four assists to lead the unheralded South Korean team to the semifinals against Italy. Lee has tied Lee Kang-in, the MVP of the 2019 U-20 World Cup, for the most assists by a South Korean player at a FIFA tournament. Lee Kang-in, who also had two goals, won the Golden Ball despite South Korea's loss to Ukraine in

June 8, 2023

S. Korea coach wary of Italian attack ahead of U-20 World Cup semifinals

In preparing for the semifinal showdown against Italy at the ongoing FIFA U-20 World Cup, South Korea head coach Kim Eun-jung has been focusing on getting his team ready to handle the Europeans' offensive prowess. "Italy's attackers are so great and we've been keying in on that aspect," Kim said at the official prematch press conference Wednesday at La Plata Stadium in La Plata, eastern Argentina. The same venue will host the semifinal match between South Korea and Italy

June 8, 2023

[Graphic News] Korea secures U-20 semifinal spot

South Korea, led by head coach Kim Eun-joong, secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Nigeria in the quarterfinals of the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup at Santiago del Estero Stadium in Argentina on Monday. The match was fiercely contested, with both teams locked in a neck-and-neck battle that eventually led to extra time. With this triumph, South Korea advances to the semifinals for the second consecutive time, building on their previous success as runners-up in the 2019 Polish Games. Looking ahea

June 8, 2023

Football federation to organize street cheering for S. Korean match at U-20 World Cup

The national football federation announced Wednesday it will organize an outdoor cheering event in Seoul for South Korea's upcoming semifinal match at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina. The Korea Football Association (KFA) said it will work with the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Red Devils, the official supporters' group for national football teams, to run an outdoor viewing party at Gwanghwamun Square, central Seoul, on Friday morning. South Korea's match against Italy

June 7, 2023