The South Korean national football team will play two warm-up matches against Saudi Arabia and Qatar in Doha, Qatar, in November to adapt to local conditions in the Middle East ahead of the Asian Cup.

The national team, led by interim head coach Robert Moreno, will play two friendly matches against Saudi Arabia and Qatar in Doha, Qatar, on November 13 and November 17, respectively.

Kickoff times are 11:30 PM and 11:00 PM, respectively, Korean Standard Time.

Both matches will take place in Doha, and the specific stadiums will be finalized later.

These two away matches serve as practical warm-ups in preparation for the Asian Cup finals scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia next January.

Initially, there were plans to hold the matches in Saudi Arabia, the host country of the Asian Cup, but the venue was changed to Doha, Qatar, taking into account recent local circumstances.

The national team plans to enhance its adaptability to the local environment and meticulously fine-tune tactical combinations and teamwork against two powerhouses representing the Middle East.

South Korea holds an even record against Saudi Arabia (FIFA ranking 55th) with 5 wins, 9 draws, and 5 losses in their head-to-head history.

In their most recent encounter during the Round of 16 at the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2024 in January 2024, South Korea secured a victory after a fierce penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw.

Against Qatar (ranked 60th), South Korea holds an upper hand with 6 wins, 2 draws, and 3 losses.

South Korea previously won 2-1 in their most recent matchup during a friendly match in Austria in November 2020.

(Photo: Yonhap News)