"A quarterfinal appearance for the first time in 28 years, and yet again against 'rival' South Korea." Tension already building in China... "Can we get revenge this time?" [Aichi Nagoya AG]

*This content was translated by AI.

South Korea, aiming for its first-ever four consecutive Asian Games gold medals in football, has been confirmed to face China in the semifinals. In China, there is already a sense of tension over meeting South Korea, widely regarded as a top contender for the title at this tournament.

China's U-23 national team secured a decisive 3-0 victory against Thailand in the quarterfinals of the men's football tournament at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, held on the 26th at Toyota Stadium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

This marks China's first appearance in the semifinals of the Asian Games men's football tournament since the 1998 Bangkok edition — a span of 28 years. It is also the first time since the competition shifted to an U-23 format starting from the 2002 Busan Games.

China took the lead in stoppage time of the first half thanks to an own goal by Thailand. In the second half, Hou Hetao and Zhang Weining scored consecutive goals to seal the victory.

After a long wait to reach the semifinals, China now faces a formidable opponent: none other than defending champion South Korea.

Under head coach Lee Min-seong, South Korea had already advanced to the semifinals on the 25th with a commanding 4-0 win over Vietnam in the quarterfinals.

Lee Young-jun scored twice, while Kim Ji-soo and Kim Myeong-jun also found the net, overwhelming Vietnam. South Korea has now reached the semifinals for seven consecutive Asian Games editions.

As a result, South Korea and China will face off in the semifinal to determine who advances to the final.

The rematch with South Korea has drawn significant attention in China. Sohu.com stated, "Chinese football has returned to the Asian Games semifinals for the first time in 28 years," and added, "Can China finally get revenge against South Korea?"

For China, there is a painful memory from the previous tournament. At the last Asian Games in 2022 in Hangzhou, China also encountered South Korea in the knockout stage. They were eliminated after losing 0-2 to South Korea in the quarterfinals, ending their title hopes on home soil.

Sohu.com reported, "China won silver at the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games and bronze at the 1998 Bangkok edition."

It further explained, "Since the men's football tournament adopted the U-23 rule starting from the 2002 Busan Games — allowing up to three wild-card players — China has failed multiple times to break through the quarterfinal barrier."

The outlet added, "At the previous 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, China again met South Korea in the quarterfinals and was eliminated after a 0-2 defeat."

After struggling to reach the semifinals for the first time in 28 years, China now finds itself blocked once again by South Korea — an ironic twist of fate.

Still, if we look only at recent head-to-head results between U-23 national teams, China has reason to feel confident.

South Korea holds a commanding historical record against China in U-23 matches with 13 wins, 3 draws, and 4 losses. However, South Korea lost 0-1 to China in an international friendly held in Yanqing, China, in March last year, and also fell 0-2 to them during the Panda Cup later that same November.

Notably, at the time of the 0-2 Panda Cup defeat, the coach leading South Korea was Lee Min-seong — the same manager now guiding the current team.

However, the squad composition for this year's Asian Games team differs significantly from that of the previous matches.

South Korea also has a clear motivation: achieving the first-ever four consecutive gold medals in men's football at the Asian Games.

South Korea has already won three consecutive gold medals — starting with the 2014 Incheon Games, followed by the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang edition, and the 2022 Hangzhou tournament held in 2023.

If South Korea claims the title at this year's tournament, it will become the first nation to achieve four consecutive gold medals in men's football at the Asian Games.

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*This content was translated by AI.