South Korea national football team
Template:Short description Template:About Template:Protection padlock Template:Use dmy dates
{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox national football team with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 2ndRegional cup apps | 2ndRegional cup best | 2ndRegional cup first | 2ndRegional name | 3rdRegional cup apps | 3rdRegional cup best | 3rdRegional cup first | 3rdRegional name | 4thRegional cup apps | 4thRegional cup best | 4thRegional cup first | 4thRegional name | American | Association | Badge | Badge_size | body1 | body2 | body3 | BSWW Rank | Captain | Coach | Confederation | Confederations cup apps | Confederations cup best | Confederations cup first | Current | date | Elo max | Elo max date | Elo max year | Elo min | Elo min date | Elo min year | Elo Rank | FIFA max | FIFA max date | FIFA max year | FIFA min | FIFA min date | FIFA min year | FIFA Rank | FIFA Trigramme | filetype | filetype1 | filetype2 | filetype3 | First game | Home Stadium | Largest loss | Largest win | Last game | leftarm1 | leftarm2 | leftarm3 | medaltemplates | medaltemplates-expand | Most caps | Name | Nickname | Only game | Other-affiliation | pattern_b1 | pattern_b2 | pattern_b3 | pattern_la1 | pattern_la2 | pattern_la3 | pattern_name1 | pattern_name2 | pattern_name3 | pattern_ra1 | pattern_ra2 | pattern_ra3 | pattern_sh1 | pattern_sh2 | pattern_sh3 | pattern_so1 | pattern_so2 | pattern_so3 | Regional cup apps | Regional cup best | Regional cup first | Regional name | rightarm1 | rightarm2 | rightarm3 | shorts1 | shorts2 | shorts3 | socks1 | socks2 | socks3 | Sub-confederation | Top scorer | Type | type | U17WC apps | U17WC best | U17WC first | U20WC apps | U20WC best | U20WC first | UEFAu21Champ apps | UEFAu21Champ best | UEFAu21Champ first | Upright |website | World cup apps | World cup best | World cup first }} Template:Infobox Korean name/auto The South Korea national football team (Template:Langx; recognized as Korea Republic by FIFA<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>) represents South Korea in men's international football and is governed by the Korea Football Association, a member of FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
South Korea has emerged as a major football power in Asia since the 1980s, having participated in ten consecutive and eleven overall FIFA World Cup tournaments, the most for any Asian country. Despite initially going through five World Cup tournaments without winning a match, South Korea became the first (and so far only) Asian team to reach the semi-finals when they co-hosted the 2002 tournament with Japan. South Korea also has won two AFC Asian Cup titles, and finished as runners-up on four occasions. Furthermore, the team won three gold medals and three silver medals at the senior Asian Games.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The team is commonly nicknamed the "Reds" by both fans and the media due to the color of their primary kit. The national team's supporting group is officially referred to as the Red Devils.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
HistoryEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} {{#lst:History of the South Korea national football team|senior}}
Team imageEdit
NicknamesEdit
The South Korea national football team has been known or nicknamed as the Taegeuk Warriors (Template:Korean) and the Tigers of Asia (Template:Korean).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Kits and crestEdit
Template:Sister project Red is the traditional shirt color of the South Korean national team, who are consequently nicknamed the "Reds", while the fans are called the "Red Devils". The away shirt has varied between white and blue. In 1994, the home shirt shifted from red to white, but in October 1995, red returned as the home color, paired with black shorts.
South Korea used to wear the country's flag as their shirt badge until 2001, when their tiger crest was unveiled.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On 5 February 2020, the KFA announced a new, more simplistic logo.<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The emblem retained the tiger, albeit in a more minimalist design, enclosed in a rectangular frame.<ref name=":1"/> Red, blue and white, South Korea's traditional colors, have been maintained in the new logo.<ref name=":1"/>
Kit suppliersEdit
| Kit supplier | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Adidas, Asics, Kolon Sports, Pro-Specs, Weekend | 1977–1986 | South Korea contracted with Adidas as their first official kit sponsor, but they did not have an exclusive kit sponsor at that time.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="suppliers">Template:Cite news</ref> |
| Template:Ill (Weekend) | 1987–1995 | Signed a long-term contract with Weekend (renamed Rapido in January 1988) in 1987.<ref name="suppliers"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> |
| Nike | 1996–present | Contracted at the end of 1995,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and sponsored since 1 January 1996. |
Kit dealsEdit
| Kit supplier | Period | Contract date | Contract duration | Total | Annual | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nike | 1996–present | check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} | 1996–1997 | $3 million | $1.5 million | |
| 16 December 1997 | 1998–2002 | $38 million | $7.6 million | <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| 9 January 2003 | 2003–2007 | $50 million | $10.0 million | <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| 23 October 2007 | 2008–2011 | $49 million | $12.3 million | <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| 13 January 2012 | 2012–2019 | $120 million | $15.0 million | <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} | 2020–2031 | $204 million | $17.0 million | <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Home stadiumEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} The South Korea national team played their first home match at the Dongdaemun Stadium on 21 April 1956. The match was a qualifier for the 1956 AFC Asian Cup against the Philippines.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They currently play their home matches at several stadiums, which are also used by K League clubs.
RivalriesEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} South Korea's biggest rival is Japan. The rivalry is an extension of a competitive rivalry between the two nations that goes beyond football, and some matches in the past have been tainted with controversy.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> South Korea leads the all-time series with 42 wins, 23 draws and 16 losses.<ref name="alltimerecord">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
A rivalry has also developed with Iran.<ref name="fifa">Template:Cite news</ref> The two nations have played against each other officially since 1958, totalling 33 matches as of March 2022, including eleven World Cup qualifiers. South Korea and Iran were among the strongest Asian national teams during the 1960s and 1970s. Although the teams played against each other only once in the final match of the Asian Cup, in 1972, they have faced each other five consecutive times in the quarter-finals between 1996 and 2011, with each team recording two wins, two losses, and a draw. Iran leads the all-time series with 13 wins, 10 draws and 10 losses.<ref name="alltimerecord"/>
Another major rival is Australia. In head-to-head matches, each team achieved 9 wins in 29 encounters, and 11 matches ended in a draw.<ref name="alltimerecord"/> The two countries have also met in four matches at the Asian Cup,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> including the 2015 final, where Australia won 2–1 after extra time for their first ever Asian championship.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
South Korea has had great success against China, as China failed to beat them in competitive matches for 32 years before finally winning in 2010.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They also possess a strong rivalry with North Korea, though matches are infrequent due to diplomatic and security reasons.
SupportersEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} The official supporter group of the national team, the Red Devils, were founded in 1995. Known for their passionate support, they are commonly referred to as the 12th man.<ref name="History of the Red Devils"/> Their most common chant is Template:Ill (Template:Korean), followed by five claps.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The FIFA Fan Fest was introduced at the 2002 World Cup in South Korea.Template:Citation needed
Recent results and fixturesEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
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2024Edit
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2025Edit
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- Notes
All-time resultsEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:Updated
| Year | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948–1959 | Matches | |||||
| 1960–1969 | Matches | |||||
| 1970–1979 | Matches | |||||
| 1980–1989 | Matches | |||||
| 1990–1999 | Matches | |||||
| 2000–2009 | Matches | |||||
| 2010–2019 | Matches | |||||
| 2020–present | Matches | |||||
| Total | — |
Coaching staffEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:Updated<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Manager | Template:Flagicon Hong Myung-bo |
| Assistant manager | Template:Flagicon João Aroso |
| Tactical coach | Template:Flagicon Tiago Maia |
| Coaches | Template:Flagicon Park Kun-ha Template:Flagicon Kim Dong-jin Template:Flagicon Kim Jin-kyu |
| Goalkeeping coach | Template:Flagicon Yang Yeong-min |
| Fitness coaches | Template:Flagicon Lee Jae-hong Template:Flagicon Jung Hyun-gyu |
PlayersEdit
Current squadEdit
The following players were called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Iraq and Kuwait on 5 and 10 June 2025, respectively.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Caps and goals updated as of 25 March 2025, after the match against Jordan.
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Recent call-upsEdit
The following players have also been called up to the South Korea squad within the last twelve months.
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- Notes
- INJ = Withdrew due to injury
Notable playersEdit
The following players were inducted into the official Hall of Fame, or were selected for an all-time XI in a survey.
| Korea Football Association Hall of Fame (2005)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | ||
| All-time Best XI by Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation and Gallup Korea (2002)<ref name="MBC">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | ||
| Experts' Best XI for the last 40 years by Best Eleven (2010)<ref name="BestXI">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | ||
Individual recordsEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:Updated<ref name="RSSSF">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Players in bold are still active with South Korea.
Most appearancesEdit
| Rank | Player | Caps | Goals | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cha Bum-kun | 136 | 58 | Template:Nowrap |
| Hong Myung-bo | 136 | 10 | 1990–2002 | |
| 3 | Lee Woon-jae | 133 | 0 | 1994–2010 |
| Son Heung-min | 133 | 51 | 2010–present | |
| 5 | Lee Young-pyo | 127 | 5 | 1999–2011 |
| 6 | Kim Ho-kon | 124 | 5 | 1971–1979 |
| 7 | Yoo Sang-chul | 122 | 18 | 1994–2005 |
| 8 | Cho Young-jeung | 113 | 1 | 1975–1986 |
| 9 | Kim Young-gwon | 112 | 7 | 2010–present |
| 10 | Ki Sung-yueng | 110 | 10 | 2008–2019 |
Top goalscorersEdit
| Rank | Player | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cha Bum-kun | 58 | 136 | {{#expr:58/136 round 2}} | Template:Nowrap |
| 2 | Son Heung-min | 51 | 133 | {{#expr:51/133 round 2}} | 2010–present |
| 3 | Hwang Sun-hong | 50 | 103 | {{#expr:50/103 round 2}} | 1988–2002 |
| 4 | Park Lee-chun | 36 | 89 | {{#expr:36/89 round 2}} | 1969–1974 |
| 5 | Kim Jae-han | 33 | 57 | {{#expr:33/57 round 2}} | 1972–1979 |
| Lee Dong-gook | 33 | 105 | {{#expr:33/105 round 2}} | 1998–2017 | |
| 7 | Choi Soon-ho | 30 | 103 | {{#expr:30/103 round 2}} | 1980–1991 |
| 8 | Kim Do-hoon | 29 | 72 | {{#expr:29/72 round 2}} | 1994–2003 |
| Huh Jung-moo | 29 | 84 | {{#expr:29/84 round 2}} | 1974–1986 | |
| 10 | Choi Yong-soo | 27 | 67 | {{#expr:27/67 round 2}} | 1995–2003 |
| Lee Tae-ho | 27 | 72 | {{#expr:27/72 round 2}} | 1980–1991 | |
| Kim Jin-kook | 27 | 94 | {{#expr:27/94 round 2}} | 1972–1978 |
Competitive recordEdit
Template:Color box ChampionsTemplate:0 Template:Color box Runners-upTemplate:0 Template:Color box Third placeTemplate:0 Template:Legend-inlineTournament played on home soil
FIFA World CupEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:Trim
Summer OlympicsEdit
- Football at the Summer Olympics has been an under-23 tournament since 1992.
AFC Asian CupEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:Trim
Asian GamesEdit
- Football at the Asian Games has been an under-23 tournament since 2002.
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EAFF ChampionshipEdit
| EAFF Championship record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Squad |
| Template:Flagicon 2003 | Champions | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | Squad |
| Template:Flagicon 2005 | Fourth place | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | Squad |
| Template:Flagicon 2008 | Champions | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | Squad |
| Template:Flagicon 2010 | Runners-up | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4 | Squad |
| Template:Flagicon 2013 | Third place | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | Squad |
| Template:Flagicon 2015 | Champions | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | Squad |
| Template:Flagicon 2017 | Champions | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | Squad |
| Template:Flagicon 2019 | Champions | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | Squad |
| Template:Flagicon 2022 | Runners-up | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | Squad |
| Total | Template:Tooltip | 27 | 13 | 10 | 4 | 39 | 20 | Template:Tooltip |
Other competitionsEdit
| Competition | Round | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Squad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:Flagicon 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup | Group stage | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | Squad |
| Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup | Group stage | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | Squad |
| Template:Flagicon 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup | Fourth place | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 7 | Squad |
Head-to-head recordEdit
The following table shows South Korea's head-to-head record, correct as of 25 March 2025.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
HonoursEdit
IntercontinentalEdit
- File:Med 1.png Champions: 1987
ContinentalEdit
- File:Med 1.png Champions: 1956, 1960
- File:Med 2.png Runners-up: 1972, 1980, 1988, 2015
- File:Med 3.png Third place: 1964, 2000, 2007, 2011
- File:Med 1.png Gold medalists: 1970, 1978, 1986
- File:Med 2.png Silver medalists: 1954, 1958, 1962
- File:Med 3.png Bronze medalists: 1990
RegionalEdit
- File:Med 1.png Champions: 2003, 2008, 2015, 2017, 2019
- File:Med 2.png Runners-up: 2010, 2022
- File:Med 3.png Third place: 2013
Minor competitionsEdit
- Korea Cup: 1971, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1991, 1997<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Merdeka Tournament: 1960, 1965, 1967, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1977, 1978<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- King's Cup: 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1998<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Jakarta Anniversary Tournament: 1981<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Dynasty Cup: 1990<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- LG Cup: 2000 (Iran), 2001 (Egypt), 2006 (Saudi Arabia)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Other awardsEdit
- FIFA World Cup Most Entertaining Team: 2002
- AFC National Team of the Year: 2002, 2009
- EAFF Championship Fair Play Award: 2008
- AFC Asian Cup Fair Play Award: 2011
See alsoEdit
- Football in South Korea
- South Korea national under-20 football team
- South Korea national under-17 football team
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
- Template:Official website of the Korea Football Association
- Korea Republic at FIFA
- Korea Republic at AFC
Template:South Korea national football team Template:Navboxes Template:Portal bar Template:Authority control