South Korea’s football governing body confirmed Friday that the men’s national team will play Morocco in an international friendly next month. (Image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Sept. 29 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s football governing body confirmed Friday that the men’s national team will play Morocco in an international friendly next month.
The Korea Football Association (KFA) said South Korea will take on Morocco at Tissot Arena in Biel, Switzerland, on Oct. 10. It will be South Korea’s second friendly after clinching a berth at the 2018 FIFA World Cup earlier this month. The Taeguk Warriors are first set to meet the World Cup hosts Russia in Moscow on Oct. 7.
The KFA originally planned a friendly with Tunisia for Oct. 10, but the African side pulled out of its commitment Sept. 22 citing “internal reasons.” In Tunisia’s stead, the KFA has been working with Morocco to launch a friendly to put the finishing touches to their World Cup preparations.
South Korea, currently 51st in the latest FIFA rankings, have played 56th-ranked Morocco once. In March 1996, the two sides played to a 2-2 draw.
Morocco have yet to secure their spot at the 2018 World Cup. They’re currently second in Group B in the third round of the African World Cup qualifying tournament with six points, just one point behind group leaders, Ivory Coast. In Africa, only the group winners earn a World Cup berth.
South Korea’s national football team head coach Shin Tae-yong announced his roster for the upcoming friendlies Monday. His 23-man squad is made up entirely of overseas-based players and includes Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur and Ki Sung-yueng of Swansea City.
(Yonhap)
