'Defending champion' Yeo Ja (CEO) team to start anew from the EAFF E-1 Championship qualifiers... 20-player roster for Shin Sang-woo revealed

*This content was translated by AI.

The South Korean women's national football team, led by head coach Shin Sang-woo, is targeting qualification for the EAFF E-1 Championship finals.

The Korea Football Association announced on the 26th via its official channels that the Yeo Ja (CEO) team will participate in the EAFF E-1 Championship (East Asian Cup) qualifiers to be held in Guam from June 3 to 9. Along with this, the final 20-player roster for the upcoming qualifier stage was also released.

The E-1 Championship operates on a format where the host nation and the top two countries among EAFF member nations based on the FIFA ranking secure direct tickets to the finals, while the remaining nations compete through a qualifier tournament for a single spot in the finals. For the upcoming finals tournament scheduled to be held in China, the host China, along with Japan (5th) and North Korea (11th), have already secured automatic qualification.

South Korea (19th) is the defending champion, having won the 2025 East Asian Cup held domestically last year. However, due to its lower position in the FIFA rankings, it will not automatically join the finals this time and must continue its challenging journey from the qualifier round.

A total of five teams, including South Korea, Guam, Macao, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Chinese Taipei, will participate in this qualifier tournament. The participating nations will be divided into two groups to play a group stage.

South Korea has been drawn into Group A along with host nation Guam and Macao, while Group B consists of the Northern Mariana Islands and Chinese Taipei. The two teams finishing first in each group will face off in a single final match on the 9th, and the winner of this final will secure the ultimate ticket to the next tournament's finals.

South Korea will play its first qualifier match against Guam on the 3rd, followed by its second group stage match against Macao on the 7th. All tournament matches will be held at the Guam Football Association Training Center stadium.

The 20-player roster for this qualifier was formed abruptly, focusing on domestic players who have been performing well in the WK League, in accordance with tournament regulations. Key players such as veteran midfielder Ji So-yun and defender Kim Hye-ri (both from Suwon FC Women), who were excluded during the FIFA series held in Brazil in April, have returned to the national team along with Ko Yu-jin, Kim Min-jeong (both from Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels), and Jang Seul-ki (from Gyeongju HanSuwon), significantly bolstering the squad's strength.

The selection of new faces is also notable. Four players—Kim Ji-yoon, Kim Ji-hyun (both from Sejong Sports Toto), Yoon Soo-jung, and Han Da-in (both from Suwon FC Women)—have received their first call-up to the A national team for the first time in their careers. Additionally, Park Ye-na (Moon Gyeong (SVP)) has been called up for the first time since December 2022, despite not having made her A-match debut yet, and striker Jang Yu-bin (Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels) has worn the Taegeuk mark again for the first time since June 2023. Nam Seung-eun, a tall central defender who has recently been active in Japan (free agent), has also made the roster for the first time under coach Shin Sang-woo.

The Yeo Ja (CEO) team is scheduled to depart for Guam, the decisive venue, on June 1 to begin full-scale preparations for the tournament.

- June 3, 17:00 vs. Guam

- June 7, 15:00 vs. Macao

- June 9, 17:00 Final: vs. (Winner of Northern Mariana Islands vs. Chinese Taipei)

- GK: Kim Kyung-hee (Suwon FC Women), Kim Min-jeong (Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels)

- DF: Ko Yu-jin, Park Hye-jeong (both from Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels), Kim Jin-hee, Jang Seul-ki (both from Gyeongju HanSuwon), Kim Hye-ri, Han Da-in (both from Suwon FC Women), Park Ye-na (Moon Gyeong (SVP)), Lee Min-hwa (Hwacheon KSPO), Nam Seung-eun (free agent)

- MF: Kim Min-ji (Seoul City Hall), Kim Ji-yoon, Kim Ji-hyun (both from Sejong Sports Toto), Son Hwa-yeon (Gangjin Swans WFC), Yoon Soo-jung, Ji So-yun (both from Suwon FC Women), Jung Yu-jin (Gyeongju HanSuwon)

- FW: Kang Ji-woo, Jang Yu-bin (both from Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels)

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*This content was translated by AI.