Roberto Moreno, the interim coach of the South Korean national soccer team, will lead the team in friendly matches against Saudi Arabia and Qatar during the November international window.
The Korea Football Association announced on October 22 that the national team will play Saudi Arabia on November 13 and Qatar on November 17 in Doha, Qatar.
The kickoff times are set for 11:30 PM and 11:00 PM Korean time, respectively. Details regarding the venues will be confirmed later.
This two-match series in the Middle East serves as a practical test in preparation for the AFC Asian Cup, which will be held in Saudi Arabia in January.
Initially, the association aimed to hold the matches in Saudi Arabia, the host nation for the Asian Cup. However, due to recent local conditions, the venue was changed to Doha.
Moreno plans to use this trip to adapt to the unique playing conditions in the Middle East and to experience the tactical characteristics of the opponents. The team will also work on positional combinations and overall organization.
Additionally, these matches will serve as a critical evaluation for Moreno's future with the team. He has recorded two wins, one draw, and one loss in four matches during the September and October international windows. His contract runs until November 27, and there is a possibility of extension based on the results of these six matches leading up to the Asian Cup.
Ranked 32nd by FIFA, South Korea has a competitive history against Saudi Arabia, ranked 55th, with a record of 5 wins, 9 draws, and 5 losses in 19 encounters. Their most recent meeting was in January 2024 during the Asian Cup Round of 16, which ended in a 1-1 draw before South Korea advanced after a penalty shootout.
Against Qatar, ranked 60th, South Korea leads with 6 wins, 2 draws, and 3 losses in 11 matches. The last encounter was a friendly in November 2020 in Austria, where South Korea won 2-1.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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