[Official] Lee Min-seong's AG gold medal challenge 'critical alert', drawn in same group as Saudi Arabia and Qatar

*This content was translated by AI.

A critical alert has been issued for the South Korean U23 national football team, which is set to challenge for the gold medal at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya (Japan) Asian Games.

Led by coach Lee Min-seong, South Korea was drawn into Group D alongside Saudi Arabia and Qatar in the men's football group stage held on the 23rd in Nagoya, Japan. The team will face two formidable Middle Eastern teams right from the group stage.

Fifteen teams are participating in this year's men's football tournament. Groups A through C each consist of four teams, while Group D, where South Korea is placed, includes three teams for the group stage.

Based on their performance at the AFC U23 Asian Cup last January, South Korea was seeded in Pot 1 (top seed) and will face Saudi Arabia from Pot 2 and Qatar from Pot 3.

While playing one fewer match in the group stage compared to other groups could be an advantage, it is regrettable that the team could not avoid difficult opponents from Pots 2 and 3.

Moreover, South Korea has historically struggled against Qatar in U23 head-to-head matches, with a record of one win, five draws, and two losses. Although they have been strong against Saudi Arabia with six wins and three draws, they suffered two consecutive defeats during a training camp match classified as an "exhibition game" by the Korea Football Association in October last year.

Group A includes host nation Japan, Thailand, Kyrgyzstan, and Hong Kong (in pot order). Group B consists of China, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iran, and North Korea. Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Philippines, and Kuwait are in Group C.

In the Asian Games men's football tournament, the top two teams from each group advance to the quarterfinals to determine the champion. South Korea, which has won three consecutive gold medals since the 2014 Incheon Games, aims for a fourth consecutive title at this tournament.

Meanwhile, the women's national football team, led by coach Shin Sang-woo, was drawn in the same group as North Korea, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.

Twelve teams are participating in the Asian Games women's football tournament. The teams are divided into three groups of four for the group stage. The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams across all groups, advance to the quarterfinals.

◇ Men's Football

- Group A: Japan, Thailand, Kyrgyzstan, Hong Kong

- Group B: China, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iran, North Korea

- Group C: Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Philippines, Kuwait

- Group D: South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Qatar

◇ Women's Football

- Group E: Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand

- Group F: South Korea, North Korea, Bangladesh, Myanmar

- Group G: China, Philippines, Uzbekistan, Hong Kong

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*This content was translated by AI.