The roar of North and Central America: Surprise at the start of the World Cup and the new journey of Korean soccer > News

The biggest topic of this World Cup is definitely the rapid progress of Asian soccer. The Korean national team, led by coach Hong Myung-bo, got off to an uneasy start by conceding the first goal in the first group match against the Czech Republic, but thanks to Hwang In-beom's sensational chip shot equalizer and Oh Hyun-gyu's fighting spirited comeback goal, they won 2-1, achieving their first win in 16 years. With this victory, Korea rose sharply to 22nd in the FIFA rankings, and Asian countries produced a series of upsets, such as Australia's complete win over Turkeye and Qatar's draw against Switzerland, proving that the landscape of world soccer is changing. In particular, Korea, ahead of its second match against Mexico on the 19th, is attracting global attention with the narrative of a 'priest battle' with coach Javier Aguirre, who coached Lee Kang-in during his time at Mallorca.

On the other hand, Brazil, the 'perennial champion', struggled in its first match against Morocco, drawing 1-1. Brazil, who was painfully aware of Neymar's absence due to injury, gave up the lead early in the game as Morocco's strong midfield pressure messed up their steps, and coach Ancelotti also could not hide his nervousness as he acknowledged the team's unstable performance. However, after striking a balance with Vinicius Junior's individual skills, Coach Ancelotti immediately modified his defensive tactics and played an even match in the second half, suggesting the possibility of a rebound in future tournaments. Meanwhile, this tournament is becoming a stage where the power of small and medium-sized countries shines more than ever before, with Scotland reporting its first World Cup win in 36 years and Qatar also earning its first points in the history of the finals and shouting 'the right to dream.'

Regardless of the heat on the pitch, Korean football administration is still in the eye of the storm. Korea Football Association President Chung Mong-gyu has announced his intention to resign at the end of the World Cup, but the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's request for heavy disciplinary action and the Football Association's legal battle against it are currently ongoing. As the court recently upheld the Football Association's application for a suspension of execution, Chairman Chung was allowed to remain in office for the time being, but the controversy is not expected to subside easily as the first trial ruling pointed out inappropriateness and procedural flaws in the manager selection process. The reality of Korean soccer, where negative news such as the resignation of the head coach and administrative distrust coexist even in the midst of a national event called the World Cup, shows a bitter side that contrasts with the fighting spirit of the players.

At the beginning of the tournament, the actions of each country's head coaches are also stimulating the interest of soccer fans. Austria's coach Ralf Rangnick was recognized for his contribution to leading the team to the World Cup finals and laid a long-term foundation for the team by extending his contract until 2028. Japan is preparing for an upset against the Netherlands despite the negative news of key players Mitoma and Wataru Endo missing due to injuries, and Coach Moriyasu is showing confidence by emphasizing Japan's unique style of soccer that emphasizes organizational skills. As such, each team is risking their lives to achieve the best results despite injury variables and tactical concerns, and the FIFA ranking point system, which is reflected in real time after the opening, doubles the tension as the results of each game have an immediate impact on the team's ranking.