Seoul, Korea, July 27, 2026: The three-time defending champions South Korea are aiming to hit their stride from the first whistle at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games men’s football tournament in September.
Korea, men’s champions at Incheon 2014, Jakarta-Palembang 2018 and Hangzhou 2022, have been drawn with Saudi Arabia and Qatar in three-team Group D at the Asian Games, which will run from September 19 to October 4.
The top two teams from each of the four groups will advance to the quarterfinals, and teams in Group D will play one fewer match than those in the three other groups.
Coached by Lee Min-sung, South Korea will try to win their fourth consecutive gold medal.
The Asian Games men's football event is an under-23 competition, but teams are each allowed to carry up to three players over the age limit.
Lee unveiled his 23-man squad on July 9, featuring four players who were on South Korea's FIFA World Cup squad in June -- including all three over-23 players in Celtic midfielder Yang Hyun-jun (24), Swansea City midfielder Eom Ji-sung (24) and Gangwon FC defender Lee Gi-hyuk (26).
The Asian Games opening ceremony is September 19 but the men's football competition will kick off on September 15. The gold medal match is October 3.
South Korea will play Qatar on September 15 and Saudi Arabia on September 22, both at Paloma Mizuho Rugby Stadium in Nagoya.
"Both Saudi Arabia and Qatar have proven themselves in Asia. If we were to post good results in those two matches, we would still have to beat our next opponents, regardless of who they are," Lee said in a statement released by the Korea Football Association.
"We will prepare for the tournament the best we can so that we will play well right from the group stage."
*The South Korean women's team, led by Shin Sang-woo, were drawn in Group F with North Korea, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
The first match is September 14 against Myanmar, followed by Bangladesh on September 17 and North Korea on September 21. All three matches will be at Nagai Stadium in Osaka.
The top two teams from each of the three four-team groups and the two best third-place teams will qualify for the quarterfinals. Their gold medal match will be October 2.
There is no age restriction in women's football at the Asian Games.
South Korea have not won an Asian Games gold in women's football, with three straight bronze medals in 2010, 2014 and 2018 being their best results so far.
"There are so many great teams in Asia and I don't think there is an easy match at the Asian Games," Shin said in a KFA statement.
"I will try to maximize our players' strengths and help them play to the best of their abilities without feeling any pressure."
Shin's team, also released on July 9, will be led by Ji So-yun, the country's all-time leader with 175 caps and 75 goals. She will compete in her sixth Asian Games at age 35.
(Yonhap News)