S. Korea's fate left hanging after defeat to S. Africa

South Korea’s hopes of reaching the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup are no longer in their own hands after a costly 1-0 defeat to South Africa left the Taegeuk Warriors third in Group A on Wednesday. The team conceded a goal in the 63rd minute, with Thapelo Maseko scoring for the African nation. Currently sitting at No. 25, South Korea finished third at this stage with three points from one win and two defeats. The team opened the tournament with a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic before s

2026-06-25 14:19:56:00

South Korea loses 1-0 to S. Africa, knockout stage hopes hang in balance

South Korea fell 1-0 to South Africa in their final group match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday, missing a chance to secure automatic qualification for the Round of 32. At Monterrey Stadium in Guadalupe, Mexico, Thapelo Maseko scored the lone goal of the match in the 63rd minute, finishing a swift counterattack with a left-footed shot into the bottom-right corner. Chepang Moremi provided the assist with a through ball that split the South Korean defense. South Korea entered the match need

2026-06-25 11:21:15:00

S. Korean captain Son Heung-min to start on bench in South Africa match

South Korea captain Son Heung-min will start on the bench for the upcoming Group A finale against South Africa, with the team needing only a draw to secure second place in the group and a place in the Round of 32. The match kicks off at 7 p.m. Wednesday, or 10 a.m. Thursday (Korean time). Son, along with midfielder Lee Jae-sung, who started South Korea’s first two group matches, will be rested, while Oh Hyeon-gyu, Hwang Hee-chan and Lee Kang-in will form the front three. Apart from the changes i

2026-06-25 09:09:42:00

[팟캐스트] (804) 한국은 왜 4년마다 축구에 열광할까?

진행자: 박준희, Chelsea Proctor Why Korea keeps returning to soccer every four years 기사 요약: 한국인들에게 월드컵은 단순한 스포츠 이벤트를 넘어, 2002년 4강 신화의 기억을 되새기며 온 국민이 함께 응원하는 축제다. [1] Every four years, something shifts — almost overnight. People who rarely follow soccer start checking kickoff times. Office chatter turns from deadlines to defensive lines. Group chats fill with lineup predictions, referee complaints and late-night watch plans. shift: 바뀌다 rarely: 드물게 chatter: 수다 late-night: 심야의 [2] Streets grow louder, em

2026-06-25 06:00:00:00

Lee Kang-in reportedly nears Atletico move, raising prospect of Seoul debut in August

As he pursues World Cup glory with South Korea, Lee Kang-in could also be closing in on a major club move. Reports in Europe suggest that Atletico Madrid is nearing an agreement to sign the midfielder from Paris Saint-Germain, raising the prospect that Lee could make his debut for the Spanish club in Seoul later this summer if the transfer is completed in time. Fabrizio Romano, an Italian sports journalist, reported Wednesday that Lee is closing in on a move from Paris Saint-Germain to the Spani

2026-06-24 13:24:49:00

When Korea became one giant public square, and what came after

In summer 2002, South Korea became one giant public square. Corporate workers poured into city plazas after work. Families gathered in front of giant outdoor screens. College students wrapped themselves in red flags and painted Korean flags on their cheeks, dressing as the “Red Devils,” or the South Korean national football team’s iconic supporters. Strangers hugged, cried and screamed together in the streets as South Korea advanced to the semifinals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, turning city cent

2026-06-24 09:00:00:00

Looking for Son Heung-min cups? Karrot has them for $65

The 2026 World Cup might be generating excitement on the pitch, but a Son Heung-min collectible is stirring up a frenzy off of it. A limited edition of McDonald’s reusable cup featuring the South Korea captain has become one of the most coveted items among Korean football aficionados, with several resellers asking more than 100,000 won ($65) for the item, which is 10 times more than the price of the meal set it originally came with. The craze follows the global popularity of the World Cup meal s

2026-06-23 14:09:10:00

What to know before Korea’s last group stage match against South Africa

South Korea will take the field against South Africa on Wednesday (Thursday morning Korean time) with hopes of advancing to the round of 32 at the World Cup. With one win and one defeat from their opening two matches, the Taegeuk Warriors need only to avoid a defeat to book their spot in the knockout stage without relying on other results. The odds appear to be in their favor. Opta Football Predictions on Monday gave Korea a 91.22 percent chance of reaching the World Cup round of 32. (see relate

2026-06-22 13:32:00:00

Why Korea keeps returning to soccer every four years

Every four years, something shifts — almost overnight. People who rarely follow soccer start checking kickoff times. Office chatter turns from deadlines to defensive lines. Group chats fill with lineup predictions, referee complaints and late-night watch plans. This is the pull of the FIFA World Cup. Arguably the world’s biggest single-sport spectacle, it has a way of transforming South Korea every four years. Streets grow louder, emotions run higher and a shared sense of national pride takes ov

2026-06-21 13:45:15:00

Not over yet. South Korea’s route to round of 32 explained

South Korea’s 1-0 defeat to Mexico on Thursday may have ended their perfect start to the World Cup, but it has done little to dent the team’s chances of reaching the knockout stage. With only one group-stage match left against South Africa on Wednesday at 7 p.m., the Taegeuk Warriors have three points from two games after opening their campaign with a 2-1 victory over Czechia, leaving them in contention for a place in the round of 32. Mexico’s second straight win sealed first place in Group A, l

2026-06-19 14:52:33:00