WK League News

South Korea’s women have become the first team to secure qualification for the knockout stage of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, and they have done so with a group stage match to spare, having sealed decisive 3-0 victories in their first two games against Iran and the Philippines. Shin Sangwoo’s squad will face hosts Australia this Sunday in a fixture that could determine both teams’ final position in the group.

The hosts opened their campaign with a 1-0 win against the Philippines, a somewhat disappointing result for a team considered one of the strongest in the region. The Matildas won 8-0 the last time the two teams played in 2023, but on this occasion the Filipinas showed determination and grit as they frustrated their opponents to keep the scoreline narrow. The result caused doubts among Korean supporters, fearing that if the Filipinas could hold the Australian team at bay in front of a record-breaking home crowd, they could cause Korea some real problems too.

The team’s first challenge came the next day, with their opening match against Iran. The Korean side were dominant from the beginning, but struggled to make it count in the final third, an issue that has plagued Shin Sangwoo and his team in recent months. Choe Yuri finally opened the scoring shortly before half time, taking advantage of a rebound after Jang Selgi’s shot hit the post. Having settled into the match, in the second half, veteran Kim Hyeri slammed a penalty kick past Iranian goalkeeper Yektaei, before providing an assist shortly afterwards for captain Ko Yoojin. Ko made the score 3-0 with her debut international goal, taking South Korea to the top of Group A.

Korea took on the Philippines this afternoon, with seven changes to the starting line-up. If the Iran match had put a spotlight on some of the best talent in the WK League, this time it was the turn of some of Korea’s young expatriates to shine. Early in the first half, Jeon Yukyeong of Molde FK scored her first international goal with an assist from Kim Shinji, currently on loan at Rangers from AS Roma. Just minutes later, it was the turn of AC Milan midfielder Park Soojeong to net her debut, and Kim Shinji almost got a turn at scoring for Korea too, but her goal was disallowed for offside. Moon Eunju of WK League side Hwacheon KSPO added one in the second half to make it another 3-0 for South Korea.

With the Philippines having lost both of their matches, and Australia and Iran set to face each other later this evening, South Korea’s back-to-back wins mean they are ensured a place in the quarter finals regardless of the result when they take on the hosts this weekend. Up to two other teams from Group A could also progress. Depending on their final position in the group, Korea could meet either the Group B runners-up or the third-placed team from either Group B or C in the first knockout round.

The team’s aims at this tournament are twofold: first, to secure qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup by progressing to the semi-finals, and then, to do one better than they did in the last Asian Cup, where they finished as runners-up after losing to China in the final. This time around, South Korea could meet China as soon as the quarter finals, depending on results in both Group A and B. Another potential opponent is North Korea, well known as a powerhouse of women’s football, who were absent from the 2022 tournament, and also coincidentally began their 2026 campaign with a 3-0 win, against Uzbekistan.