South Korea captain: 'do not underestimate Vietnam'

Captain Lee Gi-hyuk reminds teammates not to be complacent against Vietnam in ASIAD 2026 quarterfinals.

South Korea topped Group D after defeating Qatar 4-1 and Saudi Arabia 2-0. Vietnam finished second in Group C, drawing 1-1 with Kuwait, beating the Philippines 2-0, and losing 0-2 to Uzbekistan. The two teams will face each other in the quarterfinals on 25/9.

Following the victory over Saudi Arabia on the evening of 22/9, captain Lee Gi-hyuk referenced a past defeat to motivate his teammates. "We cannot underestimate Vietnam or any team from the quarterfinals onwards," the midfielder, born in 2000, stated. "They are all strong, and we cannot afford to be careless or lack vigilance. I see my role as central to guiding the players to maintain their focus. I believe we can defeat Vietnam if the entire team makes a concerted effort and demonstrates stronger resolve."

Historically, South Korea has maintained a perfect record against Vietnam at ASIAD men's football, securing victories such as 4-0 in the 1998 group stage, 2-0 in the 2006 group stage, and 3-1 in the 2018 semi-finals. However, a significant shift occurred at the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 finals in January. There, South Korea struggled to a 2-2 draw with Vietnam before suffering a 6-7 penalty shootout loss in the third-place match. This marked South Korea's first defeat to Vietnam at the U23 level or higher.

South Korea midfielder Lee Gi-hyuk (6) playing in the 2-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in the final Group D match of ASIAD 2026 men's football, at Paloma Mizuho Stadium, Nagoya, Japan on 22/9/2026. *Photo: News1*

Lee Gi-hyuk, who plays for Gangwon FC, is one of South Korea's three over-age players, alongside Eom Ji-sung (Swansea City, English First Division) and Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic, Scotland). The squad also includes several overseas-based talents: defender Kim Ji-soo (Brentford, England), Kim Myung-jun (Genk Youth, Belgium), forward Lee Young-jun (Grasshopper, Switzerland), midfielder Lee Hyun-ju (Arouca, Portugal), and Yang Min-hyeok (Westerlo, Belgium).

South Korea's roster comprises 17 players born in 2004 or earlier, making them ineligible for the 2028 Olympics. This selection strategy contrasts with nations like Japan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, which feature U21 players. Their singular objective is to secure the gold medal, a triumph that grants players exemption from mandatory military service. Historically, South Korea has earned 6 men's football gold medals at the Asian Games, including the last three editions in 2014, 2018, and 2022.

Lee Gi-hyuk emphasizes that achieving the gold medal requires players to outrun and outfight their opponents on the field. He expresses confidence in the inherent quality of South Korean players compared to their tournament rivals. However, he identifies key areas for improvement: patience in attack and maintaining a robust defense.

South Korea head coach Lee Min-sung giving instructions during the 2-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in the final Group D match of ASIAD 2026 men's football, at Paloma Mizuho Stadium, Nagoya, Japan on 22/9/2026. *Photo: Yonhap*

Meanwhile, head coach Lee Min-sung acknowledged that he has not yet had the opportunity to review Vietnam's matches at ASIAD 2026, having dedicated his full attention to the two group stage fixtures. He plans to analyze Vietnam's performance in the coming days. "The team must prepare thoroughly to ensure victory," Lee stated.

The head coach, born in 1973, was appointed to lead the South Korea U23 team in 2024 with the aim of conquering ASIAD 2026. Despite a setback at the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 finals, where the squad he built lost confidence—culminating in the defeat to Vietnam—a nearly entirely new roster has instilled renewed belief in Lee that South Korea will achieve its objective. He also declared the team's commitment to a pragmatic approach.

"We must adopt a safe strategy because the quarterfinals mark the start of the knockout rounds," head coach Lee explained. "While fans may desire both strong performances and favorable results, from this point forward, our clear objective is to prioritize results."

South Korea also received a significant reinforcement with the arrival of Grasshopper's Lee Young-jun. The 1,93 m tall forward has completed three seasons in the Swiss championship, netting 8 goals in 38 appearances. "With Lee, we gain a considerable height advantage, and we can better leverage our strengths from crosses," Lee Gi-hyuk noted.