Football
Football
European Football Giants Descend on Korea for Pre-Season Showcases
South Korea is set to host a series of high-profile pre-season football matches featuring European powerhouses Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Atlético Madrid. These exhibition games will bring top-tier talent to the peninsula, highlighted by the appearances of Korean stars Kim Min-jae and Lee Kang-in with their respective clubs.
Bayern Munich’s visit includes an “Audi Football Summit 2026” match against Jeju SK FC, scheduled for August 3rd at Jeju World Cup Stadium. This friendly is part of a deeper collaboration, with Jeju having partnered last year with “Red & Gold Football,” a youth development joint venture between Bayern Munich and LAFC. This partnership, facilitated by club advisor Koo Ja-cheol, has also led to a Jeju youth goalkeeper, Heo Jae-won, joining Bayern. Kim Min-jae, a key defender for Bayern, confirmed his intention to remain and compete with the German club during a press conference in Seogwipo ahead of the match.
Meanwhile, Atlético Madrid, featuring newly signed Korean national team standout Lee Kang-in, will face Manchester City on August 9th at 8 PM at Seoul World Cup Stadium as part of the “2026 Coupang Play Series.” Lee Kang-in, who recently transferred to Atlético Madrid for a reported total of 40 million euros, has been assigned the number 7 jersey. He recently made his first public appearance in the club’s new uniform through a video released by Atlético Madrid on August 3rd, signaling his readiness for what is anticipated to be his debut match with the Spanish side.
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