South Korean Men’s Soccer Team Celebrates 1,000th Historic A-Match

The Korea Football Association confirmed the national team will play its 1,000th A-match. The friendly against Ivory Coast is set for the 28th at Milton Keynes Stadium MK in England.

Historical origins

South Korea’s first official A-match took place at the London Olympics on August 2, 1948. The round of 16 game against Mexico finished 5-3, with Jung Kook-jin scoring twice.

The team entered the 1948 Olympics without an Asian qualifying round. England therefore remains the site of that inaugural match.

Records and milestones

Before the friendly, the team had played 999 A-matches on various stages. Their overall record stands at 542 wins, 245 draws and 212 losses.

The squad has reached the World Cup finals 12 times. It also competed in the Asian Cup, Merdeka Cup and King’s Cup.

Notable unbeaten runs

The longest streak was 29 matches without defeat. That run included 21 wins and 8 draws from September 1986 to June 1989.

Another streak lasted 27 matches unbeaten. That stretch ran from a 2008 World Cup qualifier versus Turkmenistan to a friendly in Denmark in November 2009.

2002 World Cup impact

The 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup remains a defining moment for the team. South Korea advanced to the semifinals and captured national attention.

Park Ji-sung emerged as a national symbol during that run. The campaign helped elevate the team’s global profile.

Rivalries and records

Japan is the opponent South Korea has faced most often. The two sides have met 82 times, with South Korea holding 42 wins, 23 draws and 17 losses.

Star players and legacy

Cha Bum-keun leads the nation’s all-time scoring list with 58 goals. Son Heung-min has played 140 A-matches and scored 54 goals.

Son now holds the record for most A-matches played. Park Ji-sung also stands as an international icon for Korean football.

This lineage of players boosted the team’s standing in Asia and beyond. The squad’s global stars remain a source of national pride.

Official recognition

The Korea Football Association counts Olympic and Asian Games matches as official. This includes results from before age limits were introduced in 1992 and 2002.

As the South Korean men’s soccer team prepares for its 1,000th A-match, the milestone is historic. Fans will gather at Milton Keynes Stadium MK on the 28th to watch.

[MIN JUN KU, Filmogaz.com Reporter]