Ki Sung-yueng to lead S. Korean league All-Stars against Manchester City in friendly match
What happened?
Ki Sung-yueng will lead the S. Korean league All-Stars against Manchester City in a friendly match next month. The Korea Professional Football League (K League) has announced the All-Star squad, with Ki as the head coach.
Why it matters for South Korea
The friendly match is part of the annual Coupang Play Series, which will feature two matches: S. Korean league All-Stars vs. Manchester City on August 5 and Atletico Madrid on August 9.
What comes next?
The S. Korean league All-Stars will face Manchester City at 8 p.m. on August 5 at Seoul World Cup Stadium. The team is led by Ki Sung-yueng, a former Premier Leaguer and current player of Pohang Steelers.
The forward group features three foreign players: Jefferson Galego of Bucheon FC 1995, Stefan Mugosa of Incheon United, and Yago Cariello of Ulsan HD FC. They will be joined by two South Korean internationals, Lee Dong-gyeong of Ulsan and Lee Seung-woo of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.
The league-leading FC Seoul will have three players, while Jeju SK FC, who will play Bayern Munich in a friendly on August 4, will send one player to the nation's capital.
Recent form: The S. Korean national team is currently 3rd in FIFA World Cup 2026, with 3 points from 3 games, and has recently lost two consecutive matches.
Goals this season: The S. Korean league has scored 2 goals and conceded 3 goals so far this season, resulting in a -1 goal difference.
Title race: The S. Korean team is 6 points behind the leaders, Mexico.
Last result: The S. Korean national team drew 1-1 with Jordan on March 25, 2025.
Recent form (last 2): The S. Korean team has recently drawn and lost two consecutive matches, with a recent form of 1W-1D-0L.
