Whistle in front of 70,000 spectators at the final! Referee Kim Yujeong to participate in the 2027 Asian Cup group stage draw... 'Top-tier Asian certification'

*This content was translated by AI.

Referee Kim Yujeong, affiliated with the Korea Football Association, has been officially selected as a draw official for the 2027 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup group stage draw ceremony to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The Korea Football Association announced on the 21st that it received an official letter from the AFC confirming Kim Yujeong as the draw official for the 2027 Asian Cup group stage draw. The draw ceremony, which was postponed once due to international political tensions, will kick off at 3 a.m. Korean time (9 p.m. local time on the 9th) at an event venue within the Al-Turaif World Heritage Site in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Referee Kim Yujeong stated, "I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Korea Football Association and AFC officials for their unwavering support in allowing me to participate in the group stage draw of such a major tournament as the Asian Cup." She added, "It is an honor to be here as a referee representing Asia, and I will strive to repay this trust with continued growth in the future."

This invitation comes as a result of the excellent officiating skills demonstrated by Referee Kim Yujeong at the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup held in Australia last March. During that tournament, she officiated a total of three matches, including the high-stakes role of main referee in the final match attended by over 74,000 spectators, earning high praise from the AFC for her smooth game management.

Since being granted the title of FIFA International Referee in 2018, Referee Kim Yujeong has been actively performing at the highest level in Asia. She has officiated at major tournaments including the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup, the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, the Hangzhou Asian Games, and the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Notably, her capabilities have been recognized not only in women's tournaments but also in men's age-group competitions. After serving as a fourth official in the 2025 AFC U-17 Asian Cup final, she recently took on the role of main referee in the 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup, firmly establishing herself as a referee representing Asia.

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*This content was translated by AI.