'Solved the Future of Korean Football' — First-Ever K League Youth Cup Title, Seoul Defeats Gwangju 4-1... Lee Ju-chan Hat-trick [Incheon On-Site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The future of Korean football defeated top prospects from Europe, Asia, and around the world in succession to claim the top spot at an international tournament.

FC Seoul Under-17 (U17) defeated Gwangju FC U17 4-1 in the final of the K League International Youth Cup Incheon 2026, held at 1 p.m. on the 30th at the Namdong Asia Rugby Stadium in Incheon, to lift the championship trophy.

In this tournament, which launched in 2023 and is now in its fourth edition, a Korean team has reached the top for the first time.

Previously, prominent overseas clubs won consecutively: RCD Espanyol U17 in the first edition, RSC Anderlecht U17 in the second, and Gamba Osaka U17 in the third. In this fourth edition, K League youth finally secured their first championship trophy.

In the final, Seoul, under the command of Manager Yoon Si-ho, fielded Lee Ju-chan, Kim Jun-seo, Shin Ryeul, Kim Ryu-min, Lee Eun-seong, Jung Tae-ha, An Je-min, Moon Ji-hwan, Noh Si-on, Shim Gyu-yeon, and Han Gwan-ho in the starting lineup.

Gwangju, led by Manager Park Yo-han, countered with Kim Jung-hyun, Thomas Lopez, Seok Ji-hwan, Lee Yun-gyeol, Park Sung-hyun, Kim Kyung-bin, Hwang Jun-yeong, Ryu Geon-ho, Song Si-u, Jung Woo-jin, and Jeon Seo-hwi.

Seoul seized the initiative early on. In the 6th minute of the first half, Lee Ju-chan, who was making a run into the box, headed in a sharp left-footed cross from the left flank; the ball slipped between the goalkeeper's legs to hit the net for the opening goal.

Gwangju immediately launched a counterattack. In the 18th minute of the first half, Kim Kyung-bin attempted a bold right-footed shot from near the penalty arc, and the ball precisely pierced the top-left corner of Seoul's goal to level the score at 1-1.

At the start of the second half, Seoul made an attacking change by substituting out Kim Jun-seo and bringing on Wong Sa-pa-sa-wat.

In the 2nd minute of the second half, An Je-min threaded a through pass into space on the left flank; Lee Ju-chan, who had cut in from the left side, calmly pushed in the cross with his right foot to restore Seoul's lead at 2-1.

Gaining momentum, Seoul widened the gap further. In the 10th minute of the second half, An Je-min's sharp penetrating pass completely dismantled Gwangju's back line; Noh Si-on, who received it, struck a powerful left-footed shot to make it 3-1.

Following this, in the 15th minute of the second half, Lee Ju-chan broke through alone into Gwangju's space behind and completed his hat-trick with a precise right-footed curling shot, sealing a 4-1 victory.

The tournament, hosted by the Korea Professional Football League and the Incheon Metropolitan City Football Association, and sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation, and Incheon Metropolitan City, featured a total of 12 teams from Korea and abroad, including Spain, Denmark, Japan, Australia, and Vietnam.

Domestically, Seoul, Ulsan HD, Pohang Steelers, Gwangju, Incheon United, and Incheon Nam High School participated; internationally, AD Union Adarve (Spain), FC Midtjylland (Denmark), Kashiwa Reysol (Japan), Racing Santander (Spain), Sydney FC (Australia), and PVF Football Academy (Vietnam) joined in fierce competition.

In Group A, Seoul secured first place with an unbeaten record of 4 wins and 1 draw (13 points) to advance directly to the final; Ulsan finished second (10 points), Midtjylland third (6 points), Union Adarve fourth (6 points), Kashiwa fifth (5 points), and Incheon Nam High School sixth (1 point).

In Group B, Gwangju topped the group with 3 wins and 2 draws (11 points); Sydney FC finished second (10 points), Pohang third (7 points), Incheon fourth (6 points), PVF Football Academy fifth (4 points), and Racing Santander sixth (2 points).

Seoul and Gwangju, who overcame strong overseas rivals to top their respective groups, faced off in the final, demonstrating the high international competitiveness of K League youth.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.View Original