The Korea Football Association (KFA) has confirmed and announced the opponents for two friendly matches scheduled during the March international break in Europe.
The national team will first take on Côte d’Ivoire on March 28 at 11 PM KST (2 PM local time) near London, England. They will then travel to Vienna, Austria, for their second match against the host nation on April 1 at 3:45 AM KST.
Côte d’Ivoire, South Korea’s initial opponent in the March friendlies, is currently ranked 37th by FIFA, below South Korea’s 22nd position. However, they’ve secured their spot in the 2026 World Cup by topping Group F in the African qualifiers. In the World Cup group stage, they’ll compete in Group E alongside Germany, Curaçao, and Ecuador.
In the recent Africa Cup of Nations, Côte d’Ivoire’s bid for back-to-back titles was halted in the quarterfinals with a loss to Egypt. Despite this setback, their squad boasts several key players from Europe’s top leagues, including Amad Diallo of Manchester United and Evan Ndicka from AS Roma.
This matchup serves as crucial preparation for South Korea’s third group stage game against South Africa in the World Cup. It offers an opportunity to test their mettle against Côte d’Ivoire’s trademark explosive speed and robust physicality, characteristic of many African teams.
South Korea holds a 1-0 record against Côte d’Ivoire, having secured a 2-0 victory in their only previous encounter, a friendly match in London back in March 2010. Lee Dong-gook and Kwak Tae-hwi were the goalscorers in that game. This upcoming match marks their return to English soil after a 16-year hiatus.
© Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited
Most Commented