The Klinsmanns are preparing to conquer Asia and make their way to the World Cup next month.
The Korea Football Association (KFA) officially announced on Tuesday that Seoul World Cup Stadium has been confirmed as the venue for the first match of the North and Central American World Cup Asia Region Second Qualifying Round against Singapore on Nov. 16.

Total of eight qualifiers since the launch of Klinsmann Lake

South Korean soccer performed well at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, reaching the round of 16 for the first time in 12 years. After four years and five months in charge, coach Paulo Bento stepped down and was succeeded by Jürgen Klinsmann.

Klinsmann, who took the helm in March, was called up four times in March, June, September and October, winning three, drawing two and losing three in eight matches. After a slow start with three draws and two losses in the first five matches, the team turned things around with a win over Saudi Arabia and a sweep of Tunisia and Vietnam in the two October A matches.

Compared to Bentojo, the team colors have changed drastically. In contrast to Ventura, who played a dominant style of soccer that relied on building up from the back and dominating possession, Klinsmann’s style is fast, straightforward, and focused on attacking in large numbers.

It is noticeable that he has reorganized the main back line except for Lee Kang-in’s Jung-yong and Kim Min-jae, who is emerging as the next ace. Lee Ki-je, Jeong Seung-hyun, and Seol Young-woo, who had been left out of the starting lineup, have quickly emerged as mainstays. In the defensive midfield, Park Yong-woo has replaced Chung Woo-young and Son Jun-ho and is gaining the trust of Klinsmann.

Klinsmann tests the waters in World Cup qualifiers and the Asian Cup

If the first eight games were all trials, the next eight will be the real thing, where losses are unacceptable. Starting next month, the team will begin the second round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 North and Central American World Cup. South Korea, which is looking to qualify for its 11th consecutive World Cup, has been drawn in Group C with China, Thailand, and Singapore. 스포츠토토 The team will play six home and away games and must finish second in the group to qualify for the third round.

South Korea will play Singapore at home on Nov. 16, followed by an away match against China on Nov. 21. Next March, the team will play two home-and-away games against Thailand, followed by Singapore (A) and China (H) in June, with the chance to qualify for the third round and earn a ticket to the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.