{
  "id": 16028860,
  "title": "Korea to take on Saudi Arabia, Qatar in Nov. football friendlies",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/korea-to-take-on-saudi-arabia-qatar-in-nov-football-friendlies-16028860",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-22T10:27:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/sports/20261022/korea-to-take-on-saudi-arabia-qatar-in-nov-football-friendlies"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Korea will face Saudi Arabia and Qatar in two football friendly matches next month in Doha, the Korea Football Association (KFA) announced on Thursday. The first match against Saudi Arabia, ranked 55th, is scheduled for November 13 at 5:30 p.m. local time, while the match against Qatar, ranked 60th, will take place on November 17 at 5 p.m. local time. Both matches fall within the final FIFA international match window of 2026.\n\nThese friendly matches aim to prepare Korea, currently ranked 32nd in the world, for the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup, which begins in January in Saudi Arabia. In their 19 previous meetings against Saudi Arabia, Korea has secured five wins, nine draws, and five losses. Against Qatar, Korea has recorded six victories, two draws, and three losses.\n\nInitially, the KFA had planned to stage the match against Saudi Arabia in Saudi Arabia due to the ongoing conflict in the region. However, they decided to relocate it to Qatar following threats from Yemen's Houthi rebels. These matches will also mark the final two games for Korea's interim head coach, Robert Mor.",
  "summary": "Korea will face Saudi Arabia and Qatar in two men's football friendly matches next month in Doha, the sport's national federation announced Thursday. The Korea Football Association (KFA) said the Taegeuk Warriors will first take on 55th-ranked Saudi Arabia on Nov. 13 and then play 60th-ranked Qatar on Nov. 17. The first match will kick off at 5:30 p.m. (local time) and the latter match will begin…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Bangladeshi couple executed in Saudi Arabia were in detention since Aug 2023: Report",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/bangladeshi-couple-executed-in-saudi-arabia-were-in-detention-since",
        "published": "2026-10-21T12:56:39.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "Thunderstorms to continue across most of Saudi Arabia through Monday",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/thunderstorms-to-continue-across-most-of-saudi-arabia-through-monday",
        "published": "2026-10-21T12:59:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "US diplomats, families leave Saudi Arabia missions as regional conflict with Houthis escalates",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/us-diplomats-families-leave-saudi-arabia-missions-as-regional",
        "published": "2026-10-22T05:12:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "US orders embassy staff, families to leave Saudi Arabia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/us-orders-embassy-staff-families-to-leave-saudi-arabia",
        "published": "2026-10-22T07:58:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC World",
        "title": "Two killed in attack on airport in eastern Saudi Arabia, authorities say",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/two-killed-in-attack-on-airport-in-eastern-saudi-arabia-authorities",
        "published": "2026-10-22T09:14:48.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "S. Korea to take on Saudi Arabia, Qatar in Nov. football friendlies",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/s-korea-to-take-on-saudi-arabia-qatar-in-nov-football-friendlies",
        "published": "2026-10-22T09:21:20.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Korea to take on Saudi Arabia, Qatar in Nov. football friendlies",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/korea-to-take-on-saudi-arabia-qatar-in-nov-football-friendlies",
        "published": "2026-10-22T09:52:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}