*This content was translated by AI.
A team that lost its top leader in an airstrike is burning war spirit, and a team that is embroiled in controversy over excessive treatment improvement is facing cold fan sentiment. South Korea and Iran will play the first match of the World Cup in a contrasting atmosphere.
The South Korean women's national soccer team, led by head coach Shin Sang-woo, will face Iran in the first Group A match of the 2026 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Asian Cup at Gold Coast Stadium in Australia at 6 p.m. on the 2nd (Korea time).
South Korea (21st) is far ahead of Iran (68th) in objective power, but the situation inside and outside the team ahead of the game is more chaotic than ever.
First of all, the opponent team Iran is currently in a state of shock. According to Australian media 'ABC News', at an official press conference held shortly after the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, the Iranian national team declined to speak in a somewhat chaotic atmosphere.
When asked about the airstrike, Iranian coach Margiye Jafari refused to answer, saying, "It is not appropriate to talk about such issues at this point," and AFC officials also blocked political questions. Iranian players reportedly expressed their complicated feelings by gesturing out of the team bus window despite strict surveillance prohibited from mentioning the regime.
On the other hand, the Korean national team is embroiled in a theory of responsibility for demands for rights. Ahead of the tournament, some players were at the center of controversy by even signaling a boycott on the condition of providing business seats, demanding improvement of differential regulations with the men's national team. In the end, the Korea Football Association accepted it and ended it, but there was strong criticism among fans that it was an excessive demand that did not take into account marketability and performance.
Cho So-hyun's careless remarks, who played 156 A matches, hit a decisive blow to the chilly public opinion. Cho So-hyun shared the news that the Chinese women's national team will wear the Italian luxury brand Prada uniform on her personal social network service (SNS), and wrote, "Does Korea not have this?" Fans were disappointed by the fact that they seemed to be obsessed with the appearance of luxury uniforms rather than pride of being a national team member at a time when they had already mentioned boycotting the competition, demanding the provision of business seats.
In the end, Shin Sang-woo faced a double whammy of having to reproduce the achievement of advancing to the final for the first time in history at the Indian competition four years ago, as well as returning the cold public sentiment. The tournament is filled with strong teams such as Japan (8th), North Korea (9th), and Australia (15th), making it difficult to expect a match luck.
While Iran's captain Zahra Ganbari is determined to "get a ticket to the World Cup finals according to God's will," South Korea has to prove it with its ability to quell the controversy that has brought about itself. If they fail to show an impressive performance even in this match against Iran, the arrow of criticism against the women's soccer community, coupled with the demands so far, is expected to grow out of control.
GK: Kim Min-jung (Incheon Hyundai Steel), Ryu Ji-soo (Sejong Sports Toto), Woo Seo-bin (Seoul Metropolitan Government)
DF: Shin Na-young (Brooklyn FC, USA), Choo Hyo-joo (Otawa Lapid FC, Canada), Ko Yu-jin (Incheon Hyundai Steel), Kim Jin-hee, Jang Seul-ki (Gyeongju KHNP), Kim Hye-ri (Suwon FC Women), Noh Jin-young (Mungyeong Sangmu), Lee Min-hwa (Hwacheon KSPO)
MF: Kang Chae-rim (Montreal Rose FC, Canada), Kim Shin-ji (Rangers WFC, Scotland), Park Soo-jung (AC Milan, Italy), Minyoung Jung (Otawa Lapid FC, Canada), Kim Min-ji (Seoul City Hall), Moon Eun-ju (Hwacheon KSPO), Park Hye-jeong (Incheon Hyundai Steel), Ji So-yeon, Choi Yuri (Suwon FC Women), Song Jae-eun, Lee Eun-young (Gangjin Women's Soccer Team)
FW: Casey Eugene Fair (Angel City FC, USA), Jeon Yu-kyung (MoldeFK, Norway), Son Hwa-yeon (Kangjin Women's Soccer Team), Choi Yoo-jeong (Hwacheon KSPO)
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*This content was translated by AI.
