South Korea Women Secure Fourth Straight World Cup Berth

The South Korean women's national football team, led by head coach Shin Sang-woo, was embroiled in heated controversy ahead of the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup. Ji So-yun (Suwon FC Women), the team's spiritual leader, demanded business-class flights and called for better treatment of the women's national team. Former international Cho So-hyun (Birmingham City) posted on social media about the Chinese national team's Prada sponsorship, drawing comparisons with Korea's squad. Some fans were outraged by the actions of these women's football "legends."

The team silenced negative public opinion with results. Winning match after match from the group stage, they crushed Uzbekistan 6-0 in the quarterfinals to reach the semifinals. The victory secured qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil. Starting with the 2015 Canada tournament, followed by France 2019 and Australia-New Zealand 2023, the team has now proudly qualified for four consecutive World Cups.

Although Japan, the "fated rival," halted their run with a 4-1 semifinal victory, reaching four consecutive World Cup finals is a remarkable achievement. FIFA President Gianni Infantino personally sent a letter to Korea Football Association President Chung Mong-gyu to congratulate the team on qualifying.

The women's national team has posted strong results in consecutive international tournaments, including winning the 2025 East Asian Cup and reaching the semifinals at this tournament. Yet conditions remain dire. The WK League, the top tier of Korean women's football, tells the story.