South Korean football faces intense criticism and pressure

Former South Korean football star Ahn Jung-hwan has issued a scathing critique of the national team's performance, calling recent matches “miserable” and lacking tactical identity. Writing in a column for JoongAng Ilbo, Ahn suggested that the football association and leadership must undergo a complete overhaul to prevent recurring failures.

This criticism comes amid heightened pressure on the South Korean U-23 national team as they prepare for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan. Following the senior team's disappointing exit from the North and Central America World Cup, media outlets report that the U-23 squad faces immense domestic expectations. While the team aims for a fourth consecutive Asian Games gold medal, analysts warn that the rising level of competition across Asia makes victory difficult, and failure to perform could trigger widespread public backlash.