"If Nagoya falls too, it's over"... Lee Min-sung's AG V4, the only lifeline to turn around 'bottom' public opinion

[Financial News] Standing on the brink of collapse, Korean football is turning its gaze toward Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The status of Korean football has plummeted to rock bottom due to the disastrous failure at the 2026 CONCACAF World Cup last summer (failure to advance to the Round of 32) and the administrative mismanagement of the Korea Football Association (KFA) that emerged during the head coach appointment process. To regain the lost trust and honor of its fans, Korean football is making a massive gamble. The stage is the '2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games,' which kicks off this month.

The U-23 national football team, led by head coach Lee Min-sung, is setting out to achieve an unprecedented fourth consecutive Asian Games title (V4). Starting with the late Lee Kwang-jong's "Perfect Gold" record of seven wins and no goals conceded in seven matches at the 2014 Incheon Games, Korea has stood at the top of Asia for three consecutive tournaments, including the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang and 2022 Hangzhou Games. As the gold medal is considered a given, failing to win this tournament would mean severe repercussions. With military exemption benefits—a critical variable in the players' careers—at stake, motivation is more desperate than ever.
Their objective strength is questionable. There are successive harsh assessments that the team lacks gravitas due to the absence of definite superstars who shone in past tournaments, such as Son Heung-min (Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC)) or Lee Kang-in (Atlético Madrid).

Ultimately, the success or failure of Coach Lee Min-sung's team rested on the feet of the 'national team quartet' who had stepped onto the World Cup stage just two months ago. Coach Lee selected Lee Gi-hyuk (Gangwon), Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic Football Club), and Eom Ji-sung (Swansea City) as wildcards, and even called up Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City Football Club), who qualified for the age limit, to complete the core of the squad.
The focal point of the defense is undoubtedly Lee Gi-hyuk. Having played the full 270 minutes in all three World Cup group stage matches and performing brilliantly, he has been given the special mission of coordinating the rear as the eldest member of the three-man defense in this tournament. In the midfield, Bae Jun-ho is ready to step up. Having had to give up his dream of playing even a single minute in the World Cup finals due to an injury caused by a rough tackle, he has recently played full time for his club team, completing the perfect warm-up for a stellar performance at the Asian Games.

Yang Hyun-jun and Eom Ji-sung will lead the attack. Yang Hyun-jun, who has established himself as a starter for his club Celtic Football Club and recorded an assist with a sharp cutback in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) playoffs, is the ace of Lee Min-sung's team. Eom Ji-sung, who plays in England and demonstrated exceptional chance creation immediately after coming on as a substitute in the match against Mexico at the last World Cup, is also considered a top-tier weapon to break down the opponent's compact defense. Yang Hyun-jun is currently on an upward trend, having scored in two consecutive league matches for his Scottish club, Celtic Football Club. Furthermore, Eom Ji-sung is also displaying peak form, recording one goal and one assist in two consecutive matches in the EFL Championship.
However, the group stage draw is tough. Placed in Group D, Korea will face Middle Eastern powerhouses such as Qatar on the 15th and Saudi Arabia on the 22nd in succession. Although they have the physical advantage of playing one less match than other groups, nail-biting contests are inevitable from the very first group stage game. In addition, "Asia's strongest" Japan and Uzbekistan, which has concentrated its investment on age-group national teams, are also obstacles that must be overcome.


The Asian Games national team, led by head coach Lee Min-sung, departed from Incheon International Airport on the morning of the 6th for Shizuoka, Japan, to conduct pre-camp training. Overseas players will join the team in Japan. Korea will begin its full schedule on the 15th with its first group stage match against Qatar.
For Korean football, which is in a slump, winning the Asian Games for the fourth consecutive time holds value beyond a mere gold medal. The nation's attention is focused on whether the Taegeuk Warriors can once again unleash a thrilling golden roar on the grounds of Nagoya.
[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter