Taeguk Warriors to face UAE, Vietnam in Asian Cup group in quest to end 67-year drought
Published: 10 May. 2026, 18:26
Updated: 10 May. 2026, 18:33
Saudi Arabian footballer Salem Al-Dawsari displays South Korea's tab during the group-stage draw for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia on May 9. [REUTERS/YONHAP]
Can South Korea finally end a 67-year Asian Cup title drought? The Taeguk Warriors received a favorable draw for the 2027 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup on Saturday.
The side was placed in Group E along with the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam at the official draw ceremony held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the group rounded out with the winner of a playoff between Lebanon and Yemen on June 4.
The 2027 AFC Asian Cup will take place in Saudi Arabia from Jan. 7 to Feb. 5 next year.
South Korea was placed in Pot 1 alongside host Saudi Arabia and fellow top-ranked teams Japan, Iran, Australia and Uzbekistan.
The team avoided comparatively difficult opponents such as Qatar and Jordan but was drawn into the same group as Vietnam, coached by former South Korean footballer Kim Sang-sik.
Group F, which includes Japan and defending champion Qatar, is widely viewed as the tournament's “group of death.”
North Korea, returning to the international stage after a lengthy absence, were drawn into Group B along with strong opponents such as Jordan and Uzbekistan.
The results of the group-stage draw for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia [ASIAN FOOTBALL CONFEDERATION]
For South Korea, the Asian Cup has long been defined more by heartbreak than glory.
Since winning their last title in 1960, the Warriors have finished runner-up four times.
Iran defeated South Korea 2-1 after extra time in 1972. Kuwait then won 3-0 in the 1980 final — after losing to South Korea by the same scoreline during the group stage.
The side advanced to the 1988 final with a perfect record before losing to Saudi Arabia in a penalty shootout.
Another narrow defeat continued in 2015, with a 2-1 loss to host Australia in the final despite talisman Son Heung-min scoring a dramatic late equalizer to force extra time.
The Korean national football team celebrates its win at the 1960 Asian Cup tournament. [JOONGANG ILBO]
The country's biggest loss was in the 1996 quarterfinals, when Iran dealt the team a 6-2 drubbing, with four goals from the legendary Ali Daei.
Iran also defeated South Korea 4-3 in the 2004 quarterfinals. Bahrain came away with a 2-1 group stage win in 2007.
South Korea entered the 2023 tournament with what was widely considered one of the strongest squads in its history, but suffered a humiliating 2-0 semifinal defeat to Jordan without recording a single shot on target.
Hong Myung-bo, who took charge of the national team in July 2024, is set to remain at the helm for next year’s Asian Cup under his contract with the Korea Football Association.
Korea national football team manager Hong Myung-bo announces the roster for the seventh and eighth matches in Group B of the third round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the KFA House in Seoul on March 10. [NEWS1]
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, however, could become a major variable.
South Korea’s performance at the tournament, which begins next month, may determine whether Hong remains in charge. Failure to meet public expectations could lead the national team to appoint a new manager before next year’s Asian Cup.
Korean national team footballer Son Heung-min reacts after friendly against Ghana at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in Mapo District, western Seoul, on Nov. 18, 2025. [NEWS1]
For Son, next year’s continental tournament may be his final bid for the trophy, considering he's 33.
Son has appeared in 17 Asian Cup matches across the 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023 tournaments since making his debut in 2011. He has recorded six goals and one assist, the most appearances by a South Korean player in tournament history.
With fellow Europe-based stars such as Kim Min-jae and Lee Kang-in now in their prime, ending the decades-long title drought may become Son’s final mission with the national team.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY CHANG HYE-SOO [
[email protected]
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