The Korean national soccer team has completed its A-match schedule for 2024. Following the sixth round of Group B match of the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals against Palestine on Wednesday (Korea time), the team will set a new record next year. The match was unfortunately tied 1-1.
Korea confirmed its disappointment and possibility at the same time. It got off to a good start by winning 1-0 in a friendly match with Iraq on Jan. 6. It sought to win the title for the first time in 63 years at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar, but failed to make it to the top. It failed to reach the top in the semifinal, losing 0-2 to Jordan, an ambush in the Middle East. After the event, the “table tennis gate” exploded, which sparked controversy.
He replaced Jurgen Klinsmann, who failed to win the title at the Asian Cup, and as interim coach, he completed the second qualifying round for the 2026 North-China World Cup in Asia. Ahead of the third qualifying round, he appointed Hong Myung-bo. Procedural problems lifted his head, and the team was in crisis as it tied 0-0 at a first-round home game against Palestine on Sept. 5. However, it has been leading Group B in the group league by garnering four consecutive wins. It failed to make five consecutive wins as it ended up with a 1-1 draw with Palestine on Wednesday, but it has significantly increased its chances of advancing to the World Cup finals for the 11th consecutive time.
This year, Korea played 17 A matches. It had 10 wins, six draws and one loss. The 2023 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia will be officially drawn with the penalty shootout (4-2) of the round of 16. The team had only one loss to Jordan. It had 36 points and 16 goals.
The player who scored the most goals is captain Son Heung-min. He scored 10 points. Then “Shootdori” Lee Kang-in ranked second with six goals. Lee Jae-sung scored four goals and Hoeng Hee-chan scored three. Joo Min-kyu, Bae Jun-ho, Oh Hyun-kyu and Oh Se-hoon scored two goals each. Hwang In-beom, Jung Woo-young, Jo Shoo-sung and Park Jin-seop also scored. 안전놀이터
◆ 2024 South Korea A Match Results and Scorers
January 6 vs Iraq (neutral): 1-0 win → Lee Jae-sung
Jan. 15 vs. Bahrain (neutral): 3-1 win → Hwang In-beom, Lee Kang-in score 2 goals
Jan. 20 vs Jordan (neutral): 2-2 draw → Son Heung-min, own goal
January 25 vs Malaysia (neutral): 3-3 draw → Jung Woo-young, Lee Kang-in, Son Heung-min
Jan. 31 vs Saudi Arabia (neutral): 1-1 draw (winning penalty shootout 4-2) → Cho Kyu-sung
February 3 vs Australia (neutral): 2-1 win → Hwang Hee-chan, Son Heung-min
Feb. 7 vs Jordan (neutral): 0-2 defeat
March 21 vs Thailand (home): 1-1 draw → Son Heung-min
March 26 vs Thailand (away): 3-0 win → Lee Jae-sung, Son Heung-min, and Park Jin-seop
June 6 vs Singapore (away): 7-0 win → Lee Kang-in 2 goals, Son Heung-min 2 goals, Joo Min-kyu, Bae Jun-ho, and Hwang Hee-chan
June 11 vs China (home): 1-0 win → Lee Kang-in
September 5 vs Palestine (home): 0-0 draw
September 10 vs Oman (away): 3-1 win → Hwang Hee-chan, Son Heung-min, and Joo Min-kyu
October 10 vs Jordan (away): 2-0 win → Lee Jae-sung, Oh Hyun-kyu
Oct. 15 vs. Iraq (home): 3-2 win → Oh Se-hoon, Oh Hyun-kyu, and Lee Jae-sung
November 14 vs Kuwait (away): 3-1 win → Oh Se-hoon, Son Heung-min, and Bae Jun-ho
November 19 vs Palestine (away): 1-1 draw → Son Heung-min
◆ Taeguk Warriors 2024 A Match Scorer
Son Heungmin scored 10 goals
Lee Kang-in scored 6 goals
Lee Jae Sung scored four goals
Hwang Heechan scored 3 goals
2 goals for Joomin Kyu
2 goals for BAE JUNHO
Oh Hyunkyu scored two goals
Oh Sehun scored two goals
Hwang In-beom scored one goal
JUNG WOO YOUNG scored one goal
Cho Kyu-sung scored one goal
Park Jinseop scored one goal
Meanwhile, the Korean national team will be beefing up efforts to prepare for the seventh and eighth rounds of the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 North-China World Cup, which will take place at home in March next year. The team will have showdowns with Oman on March 20 and Jordan on March 25.