As the Korean national soccer team is about to play World Cup qualifying matches against the Jordan and Iraq national teams, former national soccer team member Lee Cheon-soo predicted, “If they lose both games, the coach will definitely change.”
On the 8th, Lee Cheon-soo posted on his YouTube channel, ‘If we lose the next two games, will the manager change?’ In the video with the title, regardless of whether there is a contract clause for the national team coach, “There is no justification for consecutive losses in the current situation.” “Losing two games is a question of quality,” he said.
The national soccer team, led by coach Hong Myung-bo, is scheduled to play an away match against Jordan in the third match of Group B of the 2026 North and Central America World Cup Asian third qualifying round at the Amman International Stadium in Jordan on the 10th at 11 p.m. Korean time. Then, on the 15th, Iraq will be invited to Yongin Mir Stadium in Gyeonggi Province for the fourth home game.
Lee Cheon-soo said, “The current national team atmosphere is difficult, and I am worried that (Son) Heung-min, the team’s spiritual leader, is injured,” and added, “Regardless of the players’ individual condition, the overall national team situation is not good. “We met the most difficult team in a difficult situation,” he said.
Lee Cheon-soo said, “I think it will be difficult due to various reasons, including the weather and atmosphere,” and added, “Middle Eastern teams are very territorial. They either make immigration procedures take a long time, or intentionally give the practice field to a place that is in poor condition. “Definitely, away games are bound to be heavy on the body,” he said.
In the semifinals of the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup, the national team led by coach Jurgen Klinsmann at the time was defeated 0-2 by Jordan in the semifinals.
Regarding the appearance of Korea Football Association President Chung Mong-gyu and Coach Hong at the National Assembly on the 24th of last month due to suspicions surrounding the national team coach selection process, Lee Cheon-soo said, “I was so embarrassed that I broke out in hives while watching the hearing. “They decided there was no problem,” he said.
Lee Cheon-soo said, “I felt that there were no adults in the soccer world. “I was embarrassed that I played soccer,” he said. “The players are the golden generation, but (the association) wonders if those people are right now.”
He said, “The fact that the national team was not able to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics means that there is a possibility that they will not be able to participate in the World Cup in the future. I have never thought about not being able to participate in the World Cup, but that may be the case. It can be dangerous. “If we don’t participate in the World Cup, the Korean soccer market will completely die,” he added.
Choi Jae-ho, Donga.com reporter cjh1225@donga.com