2024-03-14 12:47:00
Defender Kim Min-jae clears the ball during the 2026 North and Central America World Cup regional second qualifying home game against Singapore held at Seoul World Cup Stadium on November 16 last year. Provided by Korea Football Association
Despite negative news such as ‘table tennis gate’, boycott public opinion, and controversy over card playing during the Asian Cup training camp, tickets for the World Cup regional preliminary home game against Thailand were sold out. It shows fans’ unwavering affection and expectations for Korean soccer and players.
The Korea Football Association announced on the 13th through social networking service (SNS) that the 2026 North and Central America World Cup regional second qualifying home match against Thailand to be held at Seoul World Cup Stadium at 8 pm on the 21st is sold out.
This is an unexpected result, considering the recent series of bad news in Korean soccer. Following the shock of being eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Qatar Asian Cup, voices criticizing the team grew louder as the conflict between national team captain Son Heung-min (32, Tottenham) and next-generation ace Lee Kang-in (23, Paris Saint-Germain) surfaced during the tournament. The association was also criticized for lack of communication and lack of transparency in the process of resolving the failure of the competition and selecting a new coach. On the 13th, the general reservation day for the Thailand game, it was reported that association staff and some players even played cards during the Asian Cup training camp.
Boycott voices also erupted for various reasons. Some soccer YouTubers and netizens raised their voices, calling for empty seats to raise awareness of the seriousness of Association President Chung Mong-gyu’s incompetence and the Association’s irresponsible attitude regarding the results of the Asian Cup. Some netizens encouraged a boycott in opposition to the selection of Lee Kang-in, who was at the center of the team conflict, to the national team.
Contrary to concerns that the number of spectators for the Thailand match would decrease, it served as an opportunity to confirm unwavering support for the national team. The national team cheering team ‘Red Devils’ said on social media that day, “The essence of the Red Devils is to support the Korean national soccer team players,” and “The moment we deviate from that essence, the Red Devils will have no reason to exist.” He said, “This incident is the fault of the Football Association, and there is no reason why the players playing in the stadium should not receive support,” and added, “We will support the players in a louder voice without boycotting the upcoming two-game series against Thailand.”
This appears to be the result of a growing consensus on the need to provide strength in crisis situations, such as the temporary director Hwang Seon-hong’s system.
However, fans are still expected to criticize the association in various ways, such as banners and slogans criticizing the association.
The national team will meet for the first time on the afternoon of the 18th at Goyang Stadium in Gyeonggi-do for convocation training in preparation for the match against Thailand. Immediately after finishing the home game against Thailand on the 21st, they will move to Bangkok, Thailand and play an away game at Rajamangala Stadium on the 26th.
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