For all his arduous work on the sphere, although, Hong has a tough repute 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 positive, 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 aspect has certified for the 2026 World Cup with room to spare, but it surely hasn’t precisely lit the world on hearth with its potential. For a heated fan base anticipating an enormous change, these subsequent 4 Korea fixtures — in opposition to the US, Mexico, Brazil and Paraguay — are vital for Hong. If his workforce performs properly, he’ll maintain his submit with Korea; if his workforce fares poorly, he could face the ignominy of dismissal earlier than the 2026 World Cup.
Korea’s rising international diaspora
Korea’s international diaspora is large, but it surely 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 in opposition to 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 might pave the best way for foreign-born Korean nationals everywhere in 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 likely be his long-overdue debut.
Main League Soccer connections
USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino wasn’t the one particular person to rely 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.
