The Korea Football Association (KFA) has appointed Robert Moreno as the interim head coach of the South Korea national football team. His primary task is to restore fan faith and change the team's atmosphere following their early exit from the World Cup.
What is the interim boss tasked with doing?
The KFA's official announcement on September 1 demanded more than just wins from Coach Moreno. The association explicitly instructed him to "change the mood of the national team." This decision comes about two months after former coach Hong Myung-bo stepped down to take responsibility. Under Hong's leadership, the team faced strong criticism from fans, including being booed at home matches.
Conscious of public criticism over its previous hiring practices, the KFA adopted an open recruitment process this time. They accepted applications over the summer before finalizing negotiations with Moreno and his staff over the weekend. Rather than rushing to appoint a full-time successor, the KFA opted for an interim setup to hold the fort for the coming months. This is in preparation for the first post-World Cup match window in September.
What does the remaining 2026 schedule look like?
The first challenge under the new regime is a friendly against Ecuador at home on September 24. Matches against Uruguay on September 28, Venezuela on October 2, and Uzbekistan on October 6 are also scheduled. These fixtures will be a crucial opportunity to turn the page after the World Cup disappointment. The full schedule can be found on our fixtures page.
The national team currently sits 3rd in their World Cup group, with 3 points from 3 games (1 win, 2 losses). Their recent form over the last five matches is 3 wins and 2 losses (LLWWW), but they have lost their last two. Their last result was a 1-0 loss to South Africa on June 25. This season, they have scored 2 goals and conceded 3, for a -1 goal difference. They trail group leaders Mexico by 6 points. Detailed records are available on our stats page.
What does Kim Sang-sik's Vietnam success signify?
Meanwhile, the Vietnam men's national football team, led by Korean coach Kim Sang-sik, has secured back-to-back ASEAN Hyundai Cup titles. Kim has set his ultimate goal on taking Vietnam to their first-ever FIFA World Cup finals. Vietnam defeated Thailand 4-2 on aggregate in the two-legged final.
Kim, who also coaches Vietnam's U-23 team, led them to the ASEAN U-23 Championship and SEA Games gold medal in 2025. Vietnam's senior team is now on a country-record 26-match unbeaten run (22 wins, 4 draws). In a video call with Korean media, he credited fan support and player trust for the success. Notably, Vietnam is set to face South Korea in Group E at the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Interim coach Robert Moreno's first official duty is the home match against Ecuador in Seoul on September 24.
