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

Undefeated S. Korea to battle high-scoring Italy for ticket to FIFA U-20 World Cup final

Against all odds, South Korea, a team of unheralded overachievers, find themselves a win away from reaching the final of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina. Standing between the young Taegeuk Warriors and a piece of Korean football history will be Italy. The two countries will battle in the semifinals at La Plata Stadium in La Plata, eastern Argentina, starting at 6 p.m. Thursday local time, or 6 a.m. Friday in Seoul time. Both teams also made the semifinals at the previous U-20 World Cup in 2

June 7, 2023

Veteran closer Oh Seung-hwan notches 500th professional save

Samsung Lions closer Oh Seung-hwan picked up his 500th professional save Tuesday, the latest milestone for the greatest fireman in South Korean baseball history. Oh pitched a scoreless ninth inning to preserve a 9-6 victory over the NC Dinos in the Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu, some 235 kilometers southeast of Seoul. It was Oh's 500th save in a career spanning three leagues: KBO, Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan, and Major League

June 6, 2023

Napoli searching for Spalletti replacement after title; Mourinho indicates he'll stay at Roma

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis may be facing an even bigger challenge now than he did a year ago when captain Lorenzo Insigne, club record scorer Dries Mertens and defensive stalwart Kalidou Moulibaly left the club. Napoli more than exceeded expectations when new signees Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Kim Min-jae helped the southern club win Serie A for the first time in more than three decades. But now Luciano Spalletti — the coach whose attacking tactics garnered plaudits from all ove

June 5, 2023

Klinsmann trying to show support for midfielder held in China

With veteran South Korean midfielder Son Jun-ho being held in China for bribery charges, national team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann wanted to show Son his support the only way he could -- by putting the 31-year-old on the 23-man squad for two friendlies this month. Klinsmann unveiled his team for matches against Peru on June 16 and El Salvador on June 20. Son was a surprise selection, as the Shandong Taishan midfielder has been in detention in Liaoning for bribery allegations. Efforts by South Ko

June 5, 2023

Klinsmann picks 3 intl. rookies for June friendlies

Three international rookies were named to the South Korean men's national football team Monday for two upcoming friendly matches. Head coach Jurgen Klinsmann unveiled his 23-man squad for matches against Peru and El Salvador later this month on home soil. The list features three first-time callups: Jeju United defender An Hyun-beom, KAA Gent midfielder Hong Hyun-seok and Ulsan Hyundai FC defender Park Yong-woo. Hong, 23, has impressed in the top Belgian league in particular, establishing ca

June 5, 2023

S. Korea beat Nigeria to advance to semifinals at FIFA U-20 World Cup

South Korea have advanced to the semifinals at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina, moving within a win of reaching the championship match for the second consecutive tournament. Choi Seok-hyun headed in the match's only goal early in extra time, as South Korea knocked off Nigeria 1-0 in the quarterfinals of the tournament at Santiago del Estero Stadium in Santiago del Estero, northern Argentina, on Sunday. Coached by Kim Eun-jung, South Korea will take on Italy in the semifinals at La Plata Sta

June 5, 2023

S. Korea's 'there's no tomorrow' mindset pays off in U-20 World Cup win: coach

When South Korea head coach Kim Eun-jung was preparing his players for the round of 16 match against Ecuador at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina, he delivered a straightforward message: that this could be their last match in the tournament and there's no tomorrow. That sense of urgency paid off in South Korea's 3-2 victory in Santiago del Estero, northern Argentina, on Thursday, and South Korea will move on to take on Nigeria in the quarterfinals on Sunday, back in the same city. &

June 2, 2023