▲ Bae Jun-ho (left)
The final rosters for the men's and women's national football teams competing in the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games have been finalized.
The Korea Football Association announced the 23-player final entries for both the men's and women's national teams that will compete in the Asian Games, which kick off this coming September.
The men's Asian Games team (U-23), led by head coach Lee Min-sung, has put young talents currently active in the English leagues at the forefront.
Nine Europe-based players, including Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City), Yang Min-hyuk (Tottenham Hotspur), and Kim Ji-soo (Brentford), have been selected, along with 14 K-League players.
As winning the Asian Games provides military service exemptions, the men's team has built a top-tier squad by calling up a large number of key prospects.
Bae Jun-ho, who was also named to the final roster for the 2026 North and Central America World Cup, is a core resource who appeared in 45 official matches for Stoke City in the English Championship (second division) last season, recording 3 goals and 3 assists.
Yang Min-hyuk, who was loaned to Coventry City in January of this year, has faced challenges after being repeatedly left out of matchday squads, but he is still considered a next-generation forward who will lead South Korean football.
Central defender Kim Ji-soo is also a major prospect who set the record for the youngest Korean player to debut in the English Premier League (EPL).
Looking at the age composition of the squad, players born in 2003 account for the largest portion with 10 members.
Park Seung-soo, born in 2007 and playing for Newcastle United in England, was named as the youngest player, and members of last year's FIFA U-20 World Cup team, Shin Min-ha (Gangwon FC) and Bae Hyun-seo (Gyeongnam FC), were also called up.
Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic), Eom Ji-sung (Swansea City), and Lee Ki-hyuk (Gangwon FC) were selected as the three wild card players, who are over the age of 23.
The women's national team, led by head coach Shin Sang-woo, is composed mainly of players who have built chemistry during this year's Asian Cup and the EAFF E-1 Football Championship qualifiers.
While veterans such as Ji So-yun and Kim Hye-ri remain on the roster, 20 out of the 23 players are from the WK-League.
Overseas-based players joining the team include Chu Hyo-joo and Jung Min-young (both Ottawa Rapid) from the Canadian league, and forward Jung Da-bin (Stabaek) who plays in Norway.
Attacking midfielder Kang Tae-kyung of Seoul City Hall is enjoying the joy of being selected for the national team for the first time in her life.
Having completed their roster selections, both the men's and women's football teams will gather in early September to begin full-scale preparations for the tournament.
The group stage draw for the football tournament will be held on the 23rd of this month.
◇ 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Men's Football National Team Roster (23 players)
*WC: Wild Card
▲ GK = Kim Min-seung (Paju Frontier FC), Kim Jun-hong (Suwon Samsung), Lee Seung-hwan (Chungbuk Cheongju FC)
▲ DF = Kim Ji-soo (Brentford FC, England), Kang Min-jun (Pohang Steelers), Park Gyeong-seop (Incheon United), Park Seong-hoon (FC Seoul), Bae Hyun-seo (Gyeongnam FC), Shin Min-ha (Gangwon FC), Choi Seok-hyun (Ulsan HD), Choi Woo-jin (Jeonbuk Hyundai)
▲ MF: Park Seung-soo (Newcastle United, England), Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City FC, England), Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic FC, Scotland, WC), Eom Ji-sung (Swansea City, England, WC), Yang Min-hyuk (Tottenham Hotspur, England), Lee Hyun-ju (FC Arouca, Portugal), Kang Sang-yoon (Jeonbuk Hyundai), Lee Ki-hyuk (Gangwon FC, WC), Lee Seung-won (Gangwon FC), Hwang Do-yoon (FC Seoul)
▲ FW = Kim Myeong-jun (KRC Genk, Belgium), Lee Young-jun (Grasshopper Club, Switzerland)
◇ 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Women's Football National Team Roster (23 players)
▲ GK = Kim Kyung-hee (Suwon FC), Kim Min-jung (Incheon Hyundai Steel), Ryu Ji-soo (Sejong Sportstoto)
▲ DF = Chu Hyo-joo (Ottawa Rapid FC, Canada), Ko Yu-jin, Jung Yu-jin (Incheon Hyundai Steel), Kim Hye-ri, Han Da-in (Suwon FC), Noh Jin-young, Jang Sel-gi (Gyeongju KHNP), Lee Min-hwa (Hwacheon KSPO)
▲ MF = Jung Min-young (Ottawa Rapid FC, Canada), Kang Tae-kyung, Kim Min-ji (Seoul City Hall), Kang Chae-rim (Gangjin Swans), Park Ye-na (Mungyeong Sangmu), Park Hye-jung (Incheon Hyundai Steel), Ji So-yun, Yoon Soo-jung, Choi Yu-ri (Suwon FC), Hyun Seul-gi (Gyeongju KHNP)
▲ FW = Jung Da-bin (Stabaek Fotball, Norway), Son Hwa-yeon (Gangjin Swans)
(Photo: Provided by Korea Football Association, Yonhap News)
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