*This content was translated by AI.
The South Korean national football team is starting anew under interim head coach Roberto Moreno (49, Spain). Coach Moreno is scheduled to arrive in Korea on the 13th, set foot on Korean soil for the first time, and then attend a press conference the following day at Cheonan's Korea Football Park in Chungcheongnam-do to announce the A-match national team roster for September and October. This marks a new cycle following the disgraceful departure of former coach Hong Myung-bo.
With the World Cup concluded and a new regime underway, significant changes are expected in the composition of the national team. Players who were selected for the final 2026 FIFA North American World Cup squad will likely form the core, but how much change Coach Moreno implements remains key. Changes in tactics could alter player selection, as could changes due to the call-up for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games during the same period, and an expansion of the national team roster due to four consecutive friendly matches instead of two. The scope of change could be larger than anticipated.
Especially for players who were effectively ignored during Coach Hong Myung-bo's tenure, or those performing well with their current clubs, the change in national team leadership offers a renewed opportunity to pursue their dream of wearing the Taegukgi. If they are called up and perform well in this four-match series, the momentum could continue through the November friendlies, further fueling their enthusiasm. It is also noteworthy that Coach Moreno is already known to be familiar with K League players.
Lee Seung-woo (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors) and Jung Seung-won (FC Seoul) are prime examples. Both have drawn significant attention regarding their potential national team selection not only due to their recent club performances but also because of their consistent presence in the past. However, they were effectively ignored by Coach Hong Myung-bo. Lee Seung-woo was first called up to the Hong Myung-bo squad in October 2024 through a substitute selection but played only three minutes as a substitute in one match before drifting away from the team. Jung Seung-won was also called up as a substitute for the 2023 EAFF E-1 Football Championship (East Asian Cup) last year, receiving his first call under Coach Hong, but was subsequently ignored after making two substitute appearances.
Lee Seung-woo and Jung Seung-won are not only close to the A National Team due to their recent club performances but also because of the call-up of second-line resources such as Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic FC) and Eom Ji-sung (Swansea City) for the Asian Games national team. The fact that this is a four-match series rather than two means there is a high probability they will get playing opportunities, which is another expectation they cannot afford to miss.
It's not just them. Other second-line attacking resources like Kim Dae-won (Gangwon FC), along with midfielders Kim Bong-soo (Daejeon Hana Citizen) and Seo Jae-min (Incheon United), are drawing attention as players consistently demonstrating competitiveness in the K League. Among full-backs, Kim Jin-su (Seoul) and Cho Hyun-taek (Ulsan HD) stand out, while among goalkeepers, Gu Seong-yun (Seoul) is widely regarded as the most prominent performer. If Coach Moreno has recently watched K League matches, most of these players would be worthy of challenging for a spot in the A National Team.
It's not limited to domestic players. Players performing abroad, led by Kim Min-su who transferred to Scottish Rangers FC and is playing brilliantly wearing the number 10 jersey, can also expect surprise selections amidst the changed national team atmosphere following Coach Hong Myung-bo's departure and the new coach's appointment. There is particular interest in whether overseas players who have recently joined new teams and are performing well, or those who were once selected for the A National Team but drifted away from the Taegukgi under Coach Hong's regime, will be re-selected. Given how significant the disappointment with the Hong Myung-bo squad was, the scope of changes in the new national team composition and expectations for 'Moreno's A National Team' are expected to be proportional.
Moreno's team will announce its roster on the 14th, gather on the 21st for their first training session, and then make Coach Moreno's interim debut against Ecuador at Suwon World Cup Stadium on the 24th. They will face Uruguay at Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 28th, Venezuela at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium on the 2nd of next month, and Uzbekistan at Yongin Mir Stadium on the 6th in sequence. Coach Moreno will temporarily lead only six friendly matches through November. Following evaluations, it will be decided whether he will continue to coach at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia next January.
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*This content was translated by AI.
