HONG KONG: South Korea is set to face China in a crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying match, with Son Heung-min emphasising the importance of maintaining composure in front of a sold-out crowd in Shenzhen.
South Korea, led by coach Jurgen Klinsmann, is currently at the top of Group C after a convincing 5-0 victory over Singapore.
Son warns against the physical tactics that Asian teams might employ and stresses the need for South Korea to stick to their game plan.
China, under President Xi Jinping’s ambitious football plans, secured a 2-1 win in Thailand and is eager to make a mark in the World Cup qualifiers.
Despite President Xi expressing that China was “lucky” in their victory, both South Korea and China are expected to qualify from Group C.
In other notable matches, Australia, who defeated Bangladesh 7-0, faces Palestine in Kuwait, and Japan, with a 5-0 win over Myanmar, travels to Jeddah to play Syria.
Iran is away at Uzbekistan, while India hosts Qatar. The top two teams from each group will advance to the final Asian qualifying round.
Australia’s coach, Graham Arnold, acknowledges the stress surrounding their preparations due to the Israel-Hamas conflict but emphasises focusing on football.
Japan, aiming for an eighth straight World Cup appearance, will encounter a tougher challenge against Syria, who secured a 1-0 victory over North Korea. – AFP
