"Will Lee Seung-woo Emerge Amid the Asian Games Call-Up Gap?" Moreno's Team on the Brink as Squad for 14th International Match Announced

[Financial News] Robert Moreno of Spain, the interim head coach of South Korea's national football team, is facing his first major test. With the announcement of the squad for four upcoming international matches in September and October approaching, football fans are closely watching to see which surprise selections may emerge as the Asian Games call-ups create vacancies.
The Korea Football Association said on the 9th, "Coach Robert Moreno will enter the country through Incheon International Airport on the 13th, and on the following day, the 14th, he will officially announce the national-team squad for the international matches at Cheonan Korea Football Park."
Appointed interim head coach on the 1st, Moreno demonstrated a deep understanding of Korean football during the interview process, even accurately grasping the unique circumstances of Gimcheon Sangmu Football Club, the military sports unit. He also showed meticulous preparation by building his own database of national-team candidates without receiving separate materials from the association. To prevent confusion over player selection, the association provided the final 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games squad, the under-21 national-team roster, and the preliminary squad for the North and Central America World Cup. It also issued him an account for a video platform that allows him to analyze every K League match.
The biggest variable in this squad announcement is its overlap with the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games schedule. As young players from the senior national team, including Bae Jun-ho of Stoke City Football Club, Yang Hyun-jun of Celtic Football Club, and Eom Ji-sung of Swansea City, join Lee Min-sung's Asian Games team in large numbers, vacancies have emerged on the flanks and in the attacking midfield.
Moreno has only six matches to make his case. Since his appointment as the permanent coach for next year's Asian Cup will depend on the results in those six games, surprise selections are likely to focus not on excessive experimentation but on proven K League players who can deliver immediate results.

The leading replacement candidates are Jeong Seung-won of FC Seoul and Lee Seung-woo of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Football Club. Right winger Jeong Seung-won is in peak form, scoring eight goals and providing three assists in July and August alone. With his tireless work rate and ability to cut inside, he is considered the top candidate to fill the vacancies left by Yang Hyun-jun and Eom Ji-sung.
Whether Lee Seung-woo, who has struggled to break into the senior national team because of competition from overseas-based players, will make the squad is also drawing intense attention. Lee has scored eight goals and provided three assists this season, including five goals and two assists since the World Cup break. His trademark dribbling and ability to break through defenses make him an ideal joker who could open up an attack that has become tightly congested.

Moreno's distinctive approach to using Son Heung-min of LAFC is another major point of interest. Now a 34-year-old veteran, Son continues to display undiminished ability, recording five goals and 11 assists in the MLS regular season this season. Son, who ranks first in appearances for the national team with 147, is also just two goals away from Cha Bum-kun's all-time scoring record of 58 goals, having scored 56 so far. He therefore has a strong chance of setting a new record during the four-match series.
However, Son's record of just two goals in seven international matches this year remains an issue. All four matches will be played at home, beginning with Ecuador in Suwon on the 24th, followed by Uruguay in Seoul on the 28th, Venezuela in Ulsan on October 2, and Uzbekistan in Yongin on October 6. The captain's role will therefore be crucial. All eyes are on the first squad Moreno announces on the 14th and how the coach, who must produce results, will maximize the attacking power of Son Heung-min, a living legend of Korean football.
[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter