For all his arduous work on the sector, although, Hong has a tough popularity off it. That is his second time main the Korean nationwide workforce, and his first wasn’t precisely a fairy story: On the 2014 World Cup, he flopped, racking up zero wins in a gaggle that includes Belgium, Russia and Algeria. The Koreans’ performances had been so poor that followers reacted angrily upon the workforce’s return to Seoul. Hong was promptly dismissed and forgotten.
When Hong was reappointed as coach 10 years later, in 2024, the query on the soccer neighborhood’s lips was … why? Whereas we do not know for certain, it seems the Korean soccer federation thought the workforce wanted a local-led reset after a sequence of disappointing international coaches.
Hong’s preliminary outcomes have been good, and his Korea facet has certified for the 2026 World Cup with room to spare, however it hasn’t precisely lit the world on hearth with its potential. For a heated fan base longing for a giant change, these subsequent 4 Korea fixtures — towards america, Mexico, Brazil and Paraguay — are vital for Hong. If his workforce performs nicely, he’ll preserve his publish with Korea; if his workforce fares poorly, he might face the ignominy of dismissal earlier than the 2026 World Cup.
Korea’s rising international diaspora
Korea’s international diaspora is large, however it hasn’t actually affected its nationwide soccer workforce… till now. Jens Castrop, the 22-year-old Korean-German midfielder from Dusseldorf, will make historical past towards the USMNT by being Korea’s first foreign-born player. Castrop represented Germany as a teen however filed a one-time swap to vary his allegiance to Korea, and his instance may pave the way in which for foreign-born Korean nationals all around the world.
Castrop is greater than only a enjoyable piece of trivia, although. He is a stellar, younger midfielder with loads of potential, and he performs alongside American internationals Gio Reyna and Joe Scally at Borussia Monchengladbach. He is the shining star of Korea’s rising era, and this USMNT pleasant will probably be his long-overdue debut.
Main League Soccer connections
USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino wasn’t the one particular person to depend on MLS gamers for these friendlies. Korea coach Hong did, too. He is bringing two U.S.-based stars, LAFC’s
Son Heung-min and St. Louis City’s
Jeong Sang-bin, to face the MLS-heavy USMNT.
