Football
Football
Men’s Football Team Faces Saudi Arabia and Qatar in Asian Games Group D
Men’s Football Team Faces Saudi Arabia and Qatar in Asian Games Group D
The U23 men’s national football team, aiming for its fourth consecutive Asian Games gold medal, has been drawn into a challenging Group D for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. The draw, conducted by the tournament organizing committee on the afternoon of the 23rd, places the team led by coach Lee Min-sung alongside Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
This assignment sets up a demanding path for the squad as they navigate group play against two formidable opponents. While the team managed to avoid Uzbekistan from Pot 2, Saudi Arabia presents a significant challenge. Qatar, also from Pot 3, adds to the group’s competitive nature.
The men’s football tournament will feature 15 participating teams, divided into four groups for the preliminary stage. Groups A through C will each consist of four teams, while Group D, featuring the Korean side, will have three teams competing. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals, followed by a knockout format to determine the champion.
Korea was placed in Pot 1 as a top seed, alongside Japan, China, and Vietnam. Pot 2 included Uzbekistan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand. Pot 3 saw Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, and the Philippines, with Kuwait, Hong Kong, and North Korea making up Pot 4.
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