"Kyung In The B" will be held in 581 days... Yoon Jung-hwan and Kim Ki-dong pledge to win side by side

*This content was translated by AI.

Incheon United and FC Seoul will open the K-League 1 professional football in the 2026 season. It is the first "Gyeongin the B" held in 581 days since July 2024. In the first game of the new season, Incheon coach Yoon Jung-hwan and Seoul coach Kim Ki-dong vowed to win side by side.

Incheon and Seoul will clash in the opening match of the first round of Hana Bank's K League 1 2026 at 2 p.m. on the 28th at Incheon Football Stadium. Gyeongin Derby, which was not played last season due to Incheon's relegation to the K League 2, will be held again on the K League 1 stage this year due to Incheon's re-promotion.

Incheon overcame its first-ever relegation pain in one season. He won the K League 2 title overwhelmingly last season and succeeded in direct promotion. Coach Yoon Jung-hwan, who led the promotion shortly after taking office, was confirmed to accompany him, and with key players such as Mugosa, Gerso, Lee Myung-joo and Kim Gun-hee in good health, Seo Jae-min, Oh Ho-sung, Iker, Juan Ibiza and Lee Chung-yong were recruited to strengthen their power. Many players have left the team, but there is no gap to be seen as a key player's departure.

Kim Ki-dong-ho, who swallowed his disappointment by staying in sixth place last season, dreams of a "complete spring in Seoul" after spending the last cold snap. Resources verified in the K League 1 and 2 stages, including Whoise, Song Min-gyu and Koo Sung-yoon, joined, and foreign players such as Babets and Ross also changed. While Lingard's absence is regrettable, head coach Kim Ki-dong, who is in his third year in office amid considerable criticism, is now in a season to make meaningful results.

Not only is it geographically a derby relationship, but there have been many conflicts on and off the ground, so Gyeongin Derby is also expected to be a fierce game in many ways. The cheering match between the supporters of both teams is also expected to be hot. The match is likely to be the third in Incheon's club history and the first sold-out K League 1 game. It is reported that not only the home team Incheon but also the away team Seoul are also preparing for the card section on the day.

Both teams also have great will to take the helm of the team for the match. When asked about "the opponent I really want to catch this season" at the opening media day of the K League 1 on the 25th, both Yoon Jung-hwan and Kim Ki-dong picked each other as their first opponents. The two coaches' common determination is to continue the momentum throughout the season by winning the opening game.

Coach Yoon Jung-hwan said, "I think both the players and the fans will have gone up as the opening game against Seoul has been confirmed. If you say you bring good results against Seoul, no matter which team you face in the future, you will get good results if you show us well. The first step is important. I have a goal to win all the games at home," he said confidently.

Coach Kim Ki-dong also said, "Looking back on last season, I felt sorry that I couldn't set the timing to go upward," adding, "If I win the opening game (in Incheon), I think it's worth going upward and playing with any team." I will do my best to win the opening game," he said.

In addition to the Incheon-Seoul match, the 2026 K League 1 will play the opening round with Ulsan HD-Gangwon FC, Gimcheon Sangmu-Pohang Steelers at 4:30 p.m., Jeonbuk Hyundai-Bucheon FC at 2 p.m. on the 1st of next month, Jeju SK-Gwangju FC at 4:30 p.m., and Daejeon Hana Citizen-FC Anyang at 2 p.m. on the 2nd.

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*This content was translated by AI.