‘Four straight gold medals’ green light to turn on··· Lee Min-sung faces Qatar in AG first match tonight - 경향신문

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Bae Jun-ho practices heading during training for the men’s national football team at the Toyota Sports Center in Nagoya on the 13th. Yonhap News

South Korea’s men’s football quest for a fourth consecutive Asian Games title begins against Qatar.

The under-23 (U-23) squad led by head coach Lee Min-sung will face Qatar in the Group D opener of the men’s football tournament at the 2026 Aichi·Nagoya Asian Games at 7:30 p.m. on the 15th at Paloma Mizuho Rugby Stadium in Nagoya, Japan.

South Korea’s objective is clear: a fourth straight gold, following Incheon 2014, Jakarta·Palembang 2018, and Hangzhou 2022.

In this tournament’s group stage, South Korea has only two matches. Among the 15 entrants, Groups A~C have four teams each, but Group D includes only South Korea, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. After facing Qatar, South Korea meets Saudi Arabia on the 22nd.

Each match therefore carries heavy weight. In particular, if the opener goes awry, the burden on the lone remaining match can increase sharply.

Qatar are no pushovers either. At the U-23 level, South Korea have met Qatar eight times, with a record of 1 win, 5 draws, and 2 losses. They are facing a team in the opener against whom a win cannot be taken for granted.

Even so, coach Lee expressed confidence in their preparation.

He said at the official press conference on the 14th, “We are here to win the Asian Games gold we have set as our target,” adding, “Training went well from the Shizuoka precamp to Nagoya. All preparations are complete.”

This tournament carries significance beyond a gold medal: it is a chance to restore the mood around Korean football after the group-stage exit at the 2026 World Cup in North and Central America.

Lee said, “I, too, have come this far while receiving considerable criticism from fans and public opinion for a year and six months,” and added, “We will try to finish the Asian Games with a gold so that Korean football can rise again.”

At the heart of the attack is No. 10 Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City).

Speaking at training the day before the Qatar match, Bae said, “We have analyzed Qatar a lot, and the coach has guided us well,” adding, “Our defense is strong, but I think the attacking unit is our bigger strength compared to other teams. We want to score many goals early and make the game comfortable.”

After finishing his club schedule, Bae joined up at the Shizuoka precamp on the 10th. He flew in from Europe and did not have much time to work with his teammates.

He said, “The flight was long and the adjustment period was short, but those are just excuses,” and added, “If I play in the No. 10 role, I will attack proactively and try to score quickly.”

A gold medal would confer military-service benefits, so this tournament is of no small significance to Bae as well.

Bae said, “It is an opportunity for me personally, so there is pressure,” but added, “The team’s result comes first before individual matters. Taking one more step to win and lift the trophy is what matters most.”

If Bae shoulders the attack, captain Lee Ki-hyeok will hold the team’s overall balance.

Born in 2000 and selected as an overage wild-card, Lee can play center back, fullback, and defensive midfielder. He was also named to the World Cup squad in June.

Coach Lee handed Lee the captain’s armband.

Lee said, “The coach asked me to be the team’s anchor,” adding, “As the eldest, I wanted to be a source of strength for the players, so I accepted right away.”

He is stressing ‘desperation’ to the players.

He said, “I asked seniors who have experienced the Asian Games as World Cup players, and they told me that the urgency to win gold and resolve military service is crucial,” adding, “I delivered the same message to our players.”

There is a strong chance Lee will start as a defensive midfielder against Qatar.

Lee said, “The coach wants me to control the center as a defensive midfielder, link play, and add bite to the defense,” adding, “If I hold the center well, the game will unfold more smoothly.”

There is also homework for the squad: cohesion.

Nine players are based in Europe. With players joining the squad at different times, there has been little time to build chemistry as one team. Striker Lee Young-jun of Grasshopper (Switzerland) has not yet joined the squad.

He said, “Given the nature of a national team, it is hard to raise cohesion quickly,” adding, “We plan to tidy that up as we go through the group stage.”

He added, “If we first complete the defensive and midfield organization, the attacking side will naturally fall into place.”

Nagoya saw heavy rain in the lead-up to the tournament. On the 14th, bursts of heavy rain came and went. Depending on the condition of the pitch on match day, normal passing play may be difficult.

He said, “It kept raining during the Shizuoka training period as well,” adding, “If the Qatar match turns into a waterlogged battle, I actually think it will favor us. The players are confident and well prepared.”

This tournament is special to Lee personally as well. His contract expires at the end of the Asian Games.

He said, “From the call-up in Cheonan onward, I felt each day was precious and could not be taken back,” adding, “I will give my all in that spirit in every remaining match, starting with the Qatar game.”

South Korea’s first opponent in the bid for four straight titles is Qatar, a team they have not dominated historically. If Bae displays the attacking thrust he wants from the outset and Lee secures a stable grip on midfield, they can steer the game in their desired flow.

Conversely, if they wobble from the first game, the final group match against Saudi Arabia could effectively become a do-or-die clash.

Lee Min-sung’s bid to change the mood around Korean football with a gold medal begins with the Qatar match.