Seol Young-woo silences critics with standout Red Star display
Seol Young-woo has turned his World Cup 2026 struggles into a club-level resurgence at Red Star Belgrade. On 22 July 2026 he played the full 90 minutes at right-back as the Serbian giants crushed Larne FC 4-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League second qualifying round in Inver Park, Northern Ireland. South Korea sit third in FIFA World Cup 2026 with 3 points from 3 games (1W-0D-2L, recent form LLW).
Since returning to Red Star after the tournament, Seol has delivered back-to-back unbeaten club outings-first a 1-0 SuperLiga win over FK Mačva Šabac on 18 July featuring four key passes and three successful crosses, then this UCL clean sheet-reclaiming his reputation after a rocky World Cup on the national stage.
Why this matters for South Korea
Seol was a regular starter for South Korea at right-back during the 2026 CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers, but his three matches were marred by poor performances that drew heavy criticism. The nadir came after the South Africa game when his agency SportyProject announced legal action over online abuse, sparking fresh controversy. Back in Belgrade, however, the 26-year-old has rediscovered his sharpest form and is now the latest example of a player using club football to rebuild after a tough international spell.
Red Star, champions of Serbia’s 2025-26 top flight, entered the UCL second qualifying round and immediately stamped their authority with a 4-0 home-and-away aggregate demolition of Larne. South Korea trail group leaders Mexico by six points (3 pts, 1W-0D-2L) and last met Jordan on 25 March 2025, drawing 1-1.
How the 4-0 win unfolded
Red Star took control inside the opening 30 minutes. Bruno Duarte converted a 26th-minute penalty, Vasilije Kostić doubled the lead after 60 minutes, and Duarte completed his brace in the 82nd to seal the win. Mohammed Cham added a late third-half strike from distance to make it 4-0. Seol, stationed at right-back, completed every minute without conceding and earned praise for his defensive solidity.
What comes next
Red Star host Larne in the second leg on 30 July 2026 at 03:00 KST. Victory would send them into the third qualifying round in August; defeat would drop them into the UEFA Europa League third qualifying path. Seol’s error-free display keeps his club’s World Cup dreams alive-and gives South Korea a timely reminder that club form can quickly repair international reputations.
