▲ Kim Myung-jun
The under-23 (U-23) men's national football team, stepping into their opening match of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, has named 2006-born European-based player Kim Myung-jun (Genk) as the spearhead of their attack.
The U-23 national football team, led by head coach Lee Min-sung, included Kim Myung-jun as a forward in their starting lineup for the first Group D match of the Asian Games men's football tournament against Qatar, which kicks off shortly at 7:30 PM at the Mizuho Park Rugby Stadium in Nagoya, Japan.
Um Ji-sung (Swansea City), Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City), and Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic) are expected to form the second line of attack, while captain Lee Ki-hyuk is anticipated to partner with Lee Seung-won (both from Gangwon) in the midfield.
The defensive line consists of Kim Ji-soo (Brentford), Choi Seok-hyun (Ulsan), Shin Min-ha (Gangwon), and Bae Hyun-seo (Gyeongnam), and Kim Jun-hong (Suwon) will wear the goalkeeper gloves.
Following their victories at the 2014 Incheon, 2018 Jakarta-Palembang, and 2022 Hangzhou (held in 2023) tournaments, South Korea is aiming for its fourth consecutive gold medal in Asian Games men's football.
Placed in Group D alongside three competing nations, our team will face Saudi Arabia on the 22nd following today's match against Qatar.
SBS will broadcast the first group stage match between South Korea and Qatar live starting shortly at 7:00 PM.
(Photo: Provided by Korea Football Association, Yonhap News)
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