First steps on long journey for Korean football

On Thursday, Korean football took its first tentative steps towards a new era with a 3-0 victory over Ecuador. The focus was undeniably on the home team, rather than the visiting South American side. The success marked a stark contrast to Korea's poor performance in the 2026 World Cup, where the team exited the tournament in the group stage following Robert Moreno's disastrous tenure as coach. This led to a parliamentary inquiry and even a police investigation into the events.

In an effort to turn the tide, Moreno has been appointed as the interim head coach for the next six games. The friendly match against Ecuador was quickly followed by fixtures against Uruguay, Venezuela, and Uzbekistan. Two additional games are scheduled for November, though the details of these matches have yet to be confirmed. If Moreno's performances meet expectations, his contract, which expires at the end of November, may be extended on a longer-term basis.

Given the team's recent struggles, it would take a significant setback for Moreno to be denied an extension. The opportunity could even include coaching the team for the Asian Cup in January, a tournament Korea has not won since 1960. Moreno's CV appears promising on the surface, but the question remains whether he can maintain his form over the longer term.