S KOREA TO FACE U.S., MEXICO IN AWAY FOOTBALL FRIENDLIES

SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will face two of the three host countries of the next FIFA World Cup in away friendly matches this fall, the sport's national federation said Wednesday.

The Korea Football Association (KFA) said South Korea, coached by Hong Myung-bo, will play the U.S. team at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, at 5 p.m. on Sept. 6 (6 a.m. on Sept. 7, Korean Standard Time). Then South Korea will play Mexico on Sept. 9 at a venue to be determined later.

The United States and Mexico will be co-hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, along with Canada.

These will be the first set of away friendly matches for South Korea since they played Wales and Saudi Arabia in Wales and England in September 2023.

Members of the South Korean starting lineup pose for photos before taking on Jordan in their Group B match in the third round of the Asian World Cup qualification at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on March 25, 2025. Top row (L to R): Hwang In-beom, Park Yong-woo, Cho Yu-min, Kwon Kyung-won, Jo Hyeon-woo and Son Heung-min. Bottom row (L to R): Lee Dong-gyeong, Lee Tae-seok, Hwang Hee-chan, Lee Jae-sung and Seol Young-woo. (Yonhap)
 

South Korea last played the U.S. in February 2014, when the Americans prevailed 2-0. The U.S. are No. 16 in the current FIFA rankings, seven spots ahead of South Korea. But South Korea hold the all-time edge with five wins, three draws and three losses.

The previous meeting between South Korea and Mexico came in November 2015 in Austria, where Mexico had a 3-2 win. South Korea have had four wins, two draws and eight losses against Mexico, currently world No. 17.

South Korea are on the verge of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. In the ongoing third round of the Asian qualification, they are leading Group B with 16 points with two matches to go, three points ahead of Jordan and four better than Iraq. And with the top two teams booking their tickets to the World Cup, South Korea can grab one with at least a draw against Iraq in their next qualifying match on June 5.

The final qualifying match will be at home against Kuwait on June 10.

The KFA said Hong will announce his squad for those matches May 26.

South Korea have played in every World Cup since 1986, including as a co-host alongside Japan in 2002.

- Yoo Jee-ho

 

 

TRUMP IS CONVINCED THAT THE FIFA WORLD CUP COULD BE AN INCENTIVE FOR RUSSIA TO END THE WAR

Donald Trump stated that Russia's participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup could contribute to peace in Ukraine. Russia has been suspended from FIFA and UEFA competitions following the invasion.

US President Donald Trump has said that the possibility for Russia to play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup could be an "incentive" to end the war in Ukraine. The Russian national football team was suspended from international competitions by FIFA and UEFA after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, reports the BBC, writes UNN.

Details

According to current rules, Russia will not play at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Qualification began in September 2023, and in addition to the three host countries, 45 places were available.

But speaking at the first meeting of his administration's working group to prepare for the 2026 World Cup, Trump said that Russia's return to the tournament could end the war in Ukraine.

Sitting next to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Trump said he did not know that Russia had been suspended from the tournament.

That's true. They are currently banned from playing, but we hope that something will happen and peace will come, and Russia will be allowed to compete again, Infantino said.

Trump said: "It's possible. It could be a good incentive, couldn't it? We want them to stop. We want them to stop. Five thousand young people are killed every week - you can't even believe it."

2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA

The US will host 78 of the 104 matches, including the final. The World Tourism Forum Institute has warned that strict immigration policies in the US and global political tensions could "significantly" affect international arrivals.

The Club World Cup, which starts next month, is being held in 12 US stadiums. The tournament is expected to be attended by around two million foreign guests.

We are already processing these travel documents and visa applications. Obviously, this will be a prerequisite for what we can do next year to host the FIFA World Cup

- said Secretary of Homeland Security Christie Noem.

Addition

Earlier this year, the administration of US President Donald Trump called on the Ukrainian government to accept an unspecified number of migrants deported from the country.

A Ukrainian diplomat informed the US Embassy that the government would offer a response when it formulates its position

- The Washington Post reports.

- Pavlo Zinchenko 

FIRST WITH HIS WORD AND NOW HIS FEET, SON HEUNG-MIN CONTINUES TO BAIL HONG MYUNG-BO OUT

Son Heung-Min came up with a crucial goal on Tuesday to help South Korea claim a 3-1 win over Oman -- their first in the third round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. HAITHAM AL-SHUKAIRI/AFP via Getty Images

 In Son Heung-Min, South Korea have for some time now boasted a genuine world-class talent capable of winning matches off his own boot.

He has done it several times before, dragging the Taegeuk Warriors out of what appeared unsalvageable situations.

And on Tuesday, he came to the rescue once again -- not just for his team but for his under-fire national coach Hong Myung-Bo.

Just five days ago, South Korea had began their third round campaign of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in disappointing fashion as they were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Palestine.

In Son Heung-Min, South Korea have for some time now boasted a genuine world-class talent capable of winning matches off his own boot.

He has done it several times before, dragging the Taegeuk Warriors out of what appeared unsalvageable situations.

And on Tuesday, he came to the rescue once again -- not just for his team but for his under-fire national coach Hong Myung-Bo.

In the immediate aftermath of that result, the South Korean fans turned on Hong -- who already was not everyone's cup of tea with his integrity being called into question when he accepted the job back in July, abruptly abandoning Ulsan HD in the middle of the season despite repeatedly giving assurances over his commitment and having turned down previous advances from the Korea Football Association.

The jeers that Hong received last week immediately saw Son, among others including fellow stars Kim Min-Jae and Lee Kang-In, leap to Hong's defence and plead with the supporters for their support.

But for much of Tuesday's visit to Oman, it looked like South Korea were going to be denied again. One can only imagine how much lower the public perception of Hong would have fallen had his team opened their campaign without a win from two matches.

With the scores tied at 1-1 after Hwang Hee-Chan's powerful 10th-minute opener was cancelled out just before the break by a Jung Seung-Hyun own-goal, up stepped Son.

Using his strength and smarts to ease Ghanim Al-Habashi out of the way and guide the ball into his own path in one solitary movement, Son would steady on the edge of the area before lashing a trademark piledriver -- on his non-preferred left foot -- that unerringly sailed past Ibrahim Al-Mukhaini and bent perfectly inside the far post just at the final moment.

Deep into injury-time, with Oman chasing an equaliser, the South Koreans would add a third with Son teeing up Joo Min-Kyu for his second international goal -- with the final 3-1 scoreline arguably papering over the cracks of what was once again a testing outing.

Again, a moment of inspiration from Son would prove the difference.

While it was with his calming words on Thursday, this time it was his feet with which Son once more bailed Hong out.

It must be noted on how remarkable Hong's fall from grace has been, given the legendary status he enjoyed as a player.

Just two months into the job, South Korea coach Hong Myung-Bo is already under pressure with his appointment back in July proving to be an unpopular one among supporters. JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images

Still his nation's joint most-capped player with 136 international appearances and captain of the famous team that finished fourth at the 2002 World Cup, Hong looked destined to forever be held in high esteem among South Korean football fans.

Even if Hong's previous spell in charge of the Taegeuk Warriors was a disappointing one, circumstances hardly favoured him as he was parachuted into the role with the team in disarray with his first major assignment the 2014 World Cup.

Hong would stoically resign after South Korea's group-stage elimination even when he was asked to stay on by the KFA.

Improvement will be expected as soon as the next international window in October, where South Korea will once again be favourites in Group B meetings with Jordan and Iraq -- and it must be remembered that it was the former who beat them in the semifinals of the AFC Asian Cup at the start of the year that led to Klinsmann's dismissal.

For a side that boasts as much quality as they do, South Korea need to start asserting their dominance -- akin to the way that neighbours Japan have racked up back-to-back wins in Group C over China and Bahrain, scoring 12 goals in the process while conceding none.

It is imperative they do so in order for the negative sentiment surrounding Hong to subside, which will then allow him a proper go at the job this second time around.

For now, though, he has Son to thank for the fact that he is not already under even more pressure.

Just like it was back then, it does seem that some of the discontent directed at him should at least be diverted to the association -- for he was always in a difficult position from the time they set their sights on him as the successor to Jürgen Klinsmann and approached him repeatedly.

- Gabriel Tan 

DEBUTANT MAARTEN PAES GOES FROM VILLAIN TO SURVIVOR ON FAMOUS EVENING FOR INDONESIA

As he made his international bow as part of an underdog outfit in the daunting cauldron that is Jeddah's 62,345-capacity King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Maarten Paes would have been fearing the worst as the Asian qualifier for the 2026 FIFA World Cup between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia approached its climax.

With 13 minutes remaining in Thursday's Group C tie and the scores tied at 1-1, there appeared to be little danger as Paes -- who was only cleared to represent Indonesia a fortnight after representing Netherlands at age-group level -- received a backpass inside his own area and began to assess the options ahead of him.

Failing to see anything he immediately fancied, he held on to possession for a while longer -- and that is when calamity ensued for the FC Dallas goalkeeper.

In a blink of an eye, Saudi Arabia striker Firas Al-Buraikan had not only closed him down but made full use of his lanky frame to nip in and win possession.

With a half-reflex, half-desperate attempt, Paes swung out a leg of his own only to hack Al-Buraikan down and concede a penalty.

In his debut for Indonesia, who he qualified to play for through his grandmother, the 26-year-old appeared destined to play the role of villain -- the culprit behind an inevitable defeat against far more illustrious opposition on an evening that had started promisingly for the plucky Indonesians.

For Indonesia, sitting 133rd on the world rankings and 77 places below Saudi Arabia, were never expected to get anything out of Thursday's contest and yet, remarkably, found themselves ahead after 19 minutes when Ragnar Oratmangoen's speculative effort ricocheted off teammate Sandy Walsh before finding the back of the linknet.

Somehow, Indonesia were leading -- away to Saudi Arabia, who famously pulled off a 2-1 win over eventual champions Argentina at the last World Cup.

The hosts were always going to issue a response yet, even when they did equalise just before halftime with a deflected strike of their own via Musab Al-Juwayr, Indonesia were still on course for a memorable draw.

The fact that it seemed as though it was going to be an individual error, rather than a moment of quality from the opponents, that would snatch the result from their grasp would have made for a bitter pill to swallow.

An individual error from a foreign-born player with excellent credentials, who Indonesian fans would have imagined would be coming into the team to help win games rather than lose them.

Paes, however, had other ideas.

Stepping up to take the penalty Paes had conceded was Saudi Arabia's talismanic captain Salem Al-Dawsari, the continent's Player of the Year in 2022 who had scored in that stunning triumph over Argentina.

Up till that point, Al-Dawsari had been the Green Falcons' best player and was the one who initially sparked them when they had fallen behind.

If there was anyone who was going to handle the pressure, it would be the Al Hilal man.

But in spite of Al-Dawsari's stuttering run-up, with a brief but deliberate pause that usually does the trick with most goalkeepers, Paes refused to commit.

He stood tall -- almost as if he was welcoming the mind games -- and, ultimately, would be the one to produce the clutch moment as he eventually threw his body to the left to make the save when Al-Dawsari had finally decided to fire a shot away.

Having gone from villain to hero, Paes would then elevate himself to saviour status with another brilliant stop in injury-time to deny Al-Buraikan one-on-one as Indonesia, in the end, did come away with a draw that will live long in the memory.

And despite the desperate manner in which they achieved it, Indonesia were arguably good value for the result.

- Gabriel Tan