South Korea meet Uzbekistan in Yongin as Moreno seeks turnaround
Version 2: New coverage adds coach Roberto Moreno’s pre-match comments that time constraints are no excuse and that he will deliver results, Seoul Shinmun’s description of a plan to press Uzbekistan from the start, and Chosun Ilbo’s framing of the match as a prelude between Asian Cup contenders.
In short
South Korea play Uzbekistan at 8 p.m. on Oct. 6 at Yongin Mir Stadium in the last of four September-October internationals, with Chosun Ilbo calling it a prelude between Asian Cup contenders. Korean outlets describe the team as unsettled after a 3-0 win over Ecuador, a 1-4 loss to Uruguay and a 0-0 draw with Venezuela, and Yonhap reported Moreno saying he has no excuses over time constraints and will deliver results. Yonhap reported a convincing win could improve Moreno’s chances of being made permanent coach for the 2027 Asian Cup, and that Son Heung-min is one goal from setting an outright Korean scoring record.
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South Korea are scheduled to play Uzbekistan at 8 p.m. on Oct. 6 at Yongin Mir Stadium, the last of four September-October international matches, according to Yonhap and Chosun Ilbo. Chosun Ilbo described the fixture as a prelude between contenders for the Asian Cup, which it said will be held next January. [ 1 , 5 ]
The match comes with the team under scrutiny: in its first three games under Spanish coach Roberto Moreno, Korea beat Ecuador 3-0, lost 1-4 to Uruguay and drew 0-0 with Venezuela, and Yonhap reported that the level of play has steadily declined and that the players’ faces showed little drive. After the Venezuela match, Kim Min-jae, who had been substituted, threw his boots down on the bench and said the team had to play as one rather than individuals shining, while midfielder Hwang In-beom, close to tears, said many things in and around football had needed to change for years but had not. Yonhap reported that some analysts question whether the squad’s internal leadership has effectively collapsed, and that fans suspect the two players were aiming their comments at specific teammates. [ 1 , 5 ]
The Yonhap report said attention now falls on Moreno and captain Son Heung-min of LAFC. It said Moreno, 49, has yet to record a clear achievement as a coach, that the Korea job is an important opportunity for him, and that a convincing win over Uzbekistan followed by good form in two November matches would significantly raise the likelihood of his being promoted to permanent coach and leading the team at the 2027 Asian Cup. [ 1 ]
Ahead of the game, Yonhap reported Moreno saying at his pre-match news conference that he would offer no excuses over time constraints and that he would deliver results. Seoul Shinmun’s headline framed his approach as pressing Uzbekistan from the start, describing it as his plan to break through the crisis. [ 3 , 4 ]
Uzbekistan, described by Yonhap as a Central Asian power that appeared at the 2026 World Cup in North and Central America, are coached by Fabio Cannavaro and sit 59th in FIFA’s live rankings to Korea’s 32nd, the report said, adding that they recently beat Iran 3-1 and Syria 4-1 at home. Korea lead the all-time series 11 wins, four draws and one loss — the sole defeat a 0-1 loss in the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games semifinal, the sides’ first meeting — and have not lost to Uzbekistan in 32 years, most recently winning a 2018 friendly in Australia 4-0. [ 1 ]
Son scored a free-kick goal against Ecuador and a goal against Uruguay, tying former national team coach Cha Bum-kun’s record of 58 international goals for Korea; one more would put him alone on that mark, Yonhap reported. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The friendly closes Korea’s September-October window and, according to Yonhap, a convincing win followed by good results in November would raise the likelihood that interim coach Roberto Moreno is given the job permanently and leads the team at the 2027 Asian Cup. Chosun Ilbo framed the match as a prelude between Asian Cup contenders, giving it weight beyond a single friendly. It is also Son Heung-min’s first chance to break the Korean international scoring record outright.
Key facts
- South Korea play Uzbekistan at 8 p.m. on Oct. 6 at Yongin Mir Stadium, the last of four September-October internationals. [ 1 , 5 ]
- It is the fourth match under Spanish coach Roberto Moreno. [ 1 ]
- Korea beat Ecuador 3-0, lost 1-4 to Uruguay and drew 0-0 with Venezuela in the first three matches. [ 1 , 5 ]
- In FIFA’s live rankings, Yonhap reported Korea at 32nd and Uzbekistan at 59th. [ 1 , 5 ]
- Yonhap reported Moreno saying at his pre-match news conference that he has no excuses over time constraints and will produce results. [ 4 ]
- Seoul Shinmun’s headline described Moreno’s plan for the match as pressing Uzbekistan from the start. [ 3 ]
- Uzbekistan are coached by Fabio Cannavaro and recently beat Iran 3-1 and Syria 4-1 at home, according to Yonhap. [ 1 ]
- Son Heung-min has 58 international goals for Korea, tied with former national team coach Cha Bum-kun, and one more would set a record. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- South Korea play Uzbekistan at 8 p.m. on Oct. 6 at Yongin Mir Stadium, the last of four September-October internationals. [ 1 , 5 ]
- Korean coverage describes the national team as unsettled or subdued going into the match. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- FIFA live rankings place Korea 32nd and Uzbekistan 59th. [ 1 , 5 ]
- In the first three matches of the window, Korea beat Ecuador 3-0, lost 1-4 to Uruguay and drew 0-0 with Venezuela. [ 1 , 5 ]
- Moreno said he has no excuses regarding time constraints and that he will deliver results. [ 4 ]
- Korea lead the all-time series against Uzbekistan with 11 wins, four draws and one loss. [ 1 ]
- Son Heung-min has 58 international goals for Korea, tied with Cha Bum-kun. [ 1 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Roberto Moreno will be promoted from interim to permanent coach and lead the team at the 2027 Asian Cup. Yonhap only reports that a convincing win and continued form in November would make that significantly more likely; no decision has been announced.
- Whether Kim Min-jae and Hwang In-beom aimed their post-match remarks at particular players. Yonhap reports that fans suspect this, without confirmation.
- Whether the team’s internal leadership has effectively broken down. Yonhap presents this as an analysis being voiced by some, not as a confirmed fact.
- The full content of Moreno’s pre-match news conference beyond the quoted line about time constraints. Document 4 is available only as a headline and short summary.
- Which players will start, or any other squad details for the match. The documents carry no lineups or squad information.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yonhap publishes its preview of the Oct. 6 South Korea-Uzbekistan match on Oct. 4, citing team form, internal discord and Moreno’s job prospects. [ 1 ]
- Kukmin Ilbo publishes a headline on Oct. 5 asking whether the unsettled team can rebound against Uzbekistan. [ 2 ]
- Seoul Shinmun publishes a headline on Oct. 5 saying Moreno’s crisis-breaking plan is to press Uzbekistan from the start. [ 3 ]
- Yonhap reports Moreno telling his pre-match news conference on Oct. 5 that time constraints are no excuse and that he will get results. [ 4 ]
- Chosun Ilbo publishes its preview early on Oct. 6, describing the match as a prelude between Asian Cup contenders. [ 5 ]
- Scheduled kickoff for South Korea against Uzbekistan at Yongin Mir Stadium on Oct. 6, the last of four September-October matches. [ 1 , 5 ]