When will Korea play its next four matches under Robert Moreno?

Korea will host Ecuador on Sept. 24, Uruguay on Sept. 28, Venezuela on Oct. 2 and Uzbekistan on Oct. 6. The squad was unveiled ahead of those four matches, and the Korea Football Association is also trying to schedule two more games in November.

Why is Moreno’s squad being watched closely by Korean football fans?

It is Moreno’s first squad since becoming interim head coach on Sept. 1, and it comes after Korea’s group-stage exit at this year’s FIFA World Cup. The Korea Football Association is also trying to find a full-time head coach before the Asian Cup in January, while Moreno’s contract runs through Nov. 27 with a chance to stay on depending on results.

Dozen K Leaguers named to Moreno's 1st Korean squad

Q: Which K League players were called up to Robert Moreno’s first Korea squad?

Twelve players based in the domestic K League were included in the 30-man roster. Among the newcomers, Incheon United defender Kim Geon-hui, Gimcheon Sangmu midfielder Park Tae-jun and Rangers midfielder Kim Min-su were selected for the first time.

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Summary

A dozen K League players were named to Robert Moreno’s first 30-man squad for the men’s national football team in Cheonan on Monday. Moreno, Korea’s interim head coach since Sept. 1, will lead the Taegeuk Warriors in four matches against Ecuador, Uruguay, Venezuela and Uzbekistan. The squad includes mainstays Son Heung-min, Kim Min-jae, Lee Kang-in and Hwang In-beom, plus three first-timers.

Key Facts

The squad has 12 K League players out of 30, a larger-than-usual share for the domestic league.
Moreno announced the squad at Korea Football Park in Cheonan, about 80 kilometers south of Seoul.
Korea will host Ecuador on Sept. 24, Uruguay on Sept. 28, Venezuela on Oct. 2 and Uzbekistan on Oct. 6.
The first-time call-ups are Incheon United defender Kim Geon-hui, Gimcheon Sangmu midfielder Park Tae-jun and Rangers midfielder Kim Min-su.
There are four goalkeepers on the roster, with FC Seoul’s Gu Sung-yu joining Jo Hyeon-woo, Kim Seung-gyu and Song Bum-keun.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 14, 2026 2:55 pm KST

Robert Moreno, interim head coach for the Korean men's national football team, speaks during a press conference announcing his 30-man squad for upcoming friendly matches at Korea Football Park in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, Monday. Yonhap

A dozen players based in the domestic K League were named to the first squad assembled by Robert Moreno for the men's national football team Monday.

Moreno, the Spain-born tactician named as Korea's interim head coach on Sept. 1, unveiled his 30-man squad for the Taegeuk Warriors' next four matches during a press conference at Korea Football Park in Cheonan, some 80 kilometers south of Seoul.

Korea will host Ecuador on Sept. 24, Uruguay on Sept. 28, Venezuela on Oct. 2 and Uzbekistan on Oct. 6.

The presence of 12 K Leaguers out of 30 represents a larger-than-usual share for the Korean league. At this year's FIFA World Cup, for instance, only seven out of 26 players represented the K League.

Moreno's first team includes several of the mainstays, including captain Son Heung-min (Los Angeles Football Club), defender Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), and midfielders Lee Kang-in (Atletico Madrid) and Hwang In-beom (FC Porto).

Moreno also selected three first-timers: Incheon United defender Kim Geon-hui, Gimcheon Sangmu midfielder Park Tae-jun and Rangers midfielder Kim Min-su.

There are four goalkeepers on the team, one more than usual, as Gu Sung-yu of the K League 1-leading FC Seoul joins a trio of veterans in Jo Hyeon-woo, Kim Seung-gyu and Song Bum-keun.

After these four upcoming matches, the Korea Football Association is also trying to schedule two more matches in November.

Moreno is signed through Nov. 27, with the KFA hoping to sign a full-time bench boss before the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup in January. The KFA, though, inserted a clause in Moreno's clause that will give him a chance to stay on board for the Asian Cup, depending on Korea's performances in his first six matches in charge.

Korean football is trying to turn a new leaf after being eliminated in the group stage at this year's FIFA World Cup. Then head coach Hong Myung-bo and KFA honcho Chung Mong-gyu both resigned in the aftermath of the tournament, and they have even faced police investigation for the KFA's much-criticized hiring of Hong in July 2024.

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