South Korea soccer players push for a K League season shift as heat punishes summer matches

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s Pro Footballers Association is urging the K League to modify the domestic soccer season to prevent matches during the peak of summer, as temperatures have been soaring in recent Augusts. The KPFA argues that shifting the schedule to fall-spring would safeguard players from the intensifying climate crisis and enhance the league’s competitiveness both regionally and internationally.

On August 2, Yangsan, a southeastern city, hit a scorching 42.5 degrees Celsius (108.5 Fahrenheit), the highest in decades, prompting authorities to advise residents to stay indoors. This extreme heat also affected the attendance at Manchester City’s friendly exhibition against a K League All-Star team, which saw a reduced crowd despite the Premier League club’s subsequent win over Atlético Madrid drawing a full house.

As of Monday, Seoul’s consecutive days of above 25 degrees Celsius (77 Fahrenheit) had ended. The 2026 K League season began on February 28 and is scheduled to conclude on December 6, but the escalating heat has fueled the demand for a schedule overhaul. While the players’ association acknowledges the challenge posed by South Korea’s harsh winters, with subzero temperatures and snowfall typical from December to February, they suggest that a temporary break during the coldest months could help players avoid injuries and maintain peak physical condition.

The association’s president, former international Lee Keun-ho, also proposes installing additional heating devices in stadiums, hybrid grass pitches, and other long-term investments to support the league. A recent survey of 536 professional players from South Korea’s men’s and women’s leagues revealed that 86.2% of respondents felt the heatwave imposed a physical strain, with 45.2% (242 players) rating it as “very much so.”

Dizziness was the most frequently reported symptom (64.7%), followed by dehydration (56.6%), headaches (32.2%), temporary loss of consciousness (13%), and nausea (12.2%). While 48.4% of players deemed the current cooling breaks adequate, only 15.3% believed the existing policies were sufficient.