Hong Myung-bo, who wrapped up this year’s A-match schedule after two consecutive games in the Middle East, will return home.
The national soccer team, which played two games in Kuwait and Jordan, will arrive at Incheon International Airport on the afternoon of the 21st.
On the 19th, the national team dissolved after a 1-1 draw with Palestine in Group B of the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America at Amman International Stadium in Jordan.
Players playing in Europe, including Son Heung-min (Tottenham), Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), and Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord), and players playing in the Middle East, including Cho Yoo-min (Sharja) and Park Yong-woo (Al Ain), returned to their teams.
Cho Hyun-woo, Joo Min-kyu, Lee Myung-jae (Ulsan), Lee Tae-seok (Pohang), and Kim Moon-hwan (Daejeon), who are active in the K-League, will return home on the same day.
Originally, the team was scheduled to fly back to Korea on Tuesday after the game ended. However, the departure time of the previous flight was accelerated, so they stayed in Jordan for one more day and boarded a flight to Korea the next day.
According to an official from the Korea Football Association, the headquarters, including Hong Myung-bo, will move from Jordan to South Korea via Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.
Coach Hong Myung-bo, who took the helm of the national team after controversy in July, made his debut against Palestine at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in September. However, due to various variables including booing at the national team and the worst grass situation, Korea took its first step 0-0.
Son Heung-min, who scored one goal and two assists in the subsequent away match in Oman, won 3-1, but many criticized that it was the result of the player’s individual capabilities, not team tactics.
In October, however, the Korean national team made a comeback. Despite Son Heung-min failing to join due to injury he suffered in his team, the team garnered consecutive victories over Jordan and Iraq thanks to new faces including Bae Joon-ho (Stoke), Oh Hyun-kyu (Henk), and Oh Se-hoon (Manchida Zelvia).
In November, South Korea won 3-1 away to Kuwait, but failed to secure the victory in the match against Palestine, which was considered the weakest team, due to poor condition and unstable defense.
If the team ranks first or second in the group at the third Asian qualifying round for the North-China World Cup, it will be able to qualify for the World Cup finals. Third and fourth place finishers face difficulties in going through the fourth qualifying round. 메이저사이트
At the third preliminary match, Korea had four wins and two draws (14 points) to rank No. 1 in Group B. It is three points behind Iraq (11 points), which is ranked second, and five points behind Jordan (9 points), which is ranked third.
The third preliminary round will resume in March next year. Korea will hold two consecutive home games against Oman on March 20 and Jordan on March 25.