Japan Heads to Wembley... Hong Myung-bo's Squad Likely to Face 24th-Ranked Austria in March Friendly

[Financial News] With about six months remaining before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the quality of warm-up opponents for South Korea and Japan is showing a clear difference.
According to football sources on the 17th, Austria has emerged as the likely opponent for the South Korea national football team, led by Hong Myung-bo, in an away friendly scheduled for March next year. Meanwhile, rival Japan has secured a match at the heart of English football, Wembley Stadium, highlighting the contrasting fortunes of the two teams.
Austrian media outlets such as Kronen Zeitung reported on the 15th (local time), citing comments from Austria's head coach Ralf Rangnick, that 'Austria is set to play a home match against South Korea as the final fixture of the March international window next year.'
Austria has been drawn into Group J of the World Cup finals alongside Jordan, an Asian nation. Coach Rangnick selected South Korea as a virtual stand-in for Jordan, inviting them to Austria to assess his squad’s readiness in a realistic setting.
From South Korea's perspective, this is not a bad choice. Hong Myung-bo's squad will face the winner of the European playoff Path D (such as Denmark or the Czech Republic) in their opening Group A match at the finals. Austria, ranked 24th by FIFA, is known for its strong organization and European physicality, making it a suitable sparring partner ahead of the first match.

However, some fans are disappointed, as the contrast with Japan’s high-profile match is stark. On April 1 next year (during the March international match week), Japan will face fourth-ranked England at Wembley Stadium in London. The Japan Football Association (JFA) proactively sought out top European teams and succeeded in arranging a match against one of the world’s best at a symbolic venue.
In contrast, South Korea struggled to secure matches against top Pot 1 nations. Most major European teams had already finalized their March friendly schedules, leaving Hong Myung-bo's squad with limited options. The Netherlands, Japan’s opponent in their first Group F match, was considered as a potential friendly opponent but that plan also fell through. Realistically, Austria became the best available European alternative.
In an interview upon returning to Korea, coach Hong Myung-bo emphasized practicality, saying, 'It's best to find teams similar to those we’ll face in the finals.' Still, compared to Japan's glamorous fixture list, South Korea's schedule is inevitably seen as somewhat modest.
As the final rehearsal before the World Cup finals approaches, South Korea is prioritizing practical preparation, while Japan is securing both prestige and excitement—a contrast that stands out.


jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter