SEOUL -- South Korea has long prided itself on being Asia's premier soccer power, with more World Cup appearances and continental club titles than any other country in the region. But there is an air of gloom surrounding the sport at the moment, on and off the field.
The Taeguk Warriors, as the team is known, were expected to clinch an 11th successive World Cup appearance in March. All they had to do was defeat Oman and Jordan, two weaker opponents, at home. Both games ended 1-1 however, leaving South Korea with work to do to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Rivals Japan and Iran have already booked their tickets.
