As the end of the season approaches, there’s still all to play for, not only in the league but also in the inaugural W Korea Cup, not to mention this month’s National Sports Festival. Ahead of Round 25, we’re providing a quick overview of where each team stands, starting from the bottom of the table and working upwards. This afternoon it’s the four teams competing for third place and a ticket to the all-important playoff — meaning all these clubs still have a chance to lift the 2026 WK League trophy.
In case you missed it: The run-in: Incheon and Gangjin battle to avoid dead last
With just three points separating them all as things stand, the mid-table could not be tighter. In fact, it is possible for all four of these sides to finish the season on 37 points. As some of these competitors for third place face each other in the coming weeks, players will need to stay fit and alert to ensure they not only pick up points, but also deny their rivals the opportunity to climb the table. For clubs involved in the National Sports Festival and/or W Korea Cup, there may also be tough decisions for the coaching staff as they choose where to focus their attention when picking matchday squads.
Seoul City Amazones
Current league position: 6th
Highest possible finish: 3rd
Lowest possible finish: 7th
Possible trophies: 3 (WK League, W Korea Cup, National Sports Festival)
Last year’s WK League runners-up are at the back of this year’s chasing pack, but don’t let that fool you. Yoo Youngsil’s Amazones are punching above their weight to stay in the running. With modest resources and policies preventing the club from bringing in foreign players, Seoul City have the smallest squad in the league, made smaller by long-term injuries, and at times by short-term ones. This year has seen, on occasion, Seoul playing a goalkeeper up front, and a midfielder in goal — decisions indicative of the side’s lack of squad depth.
All of this notwithstanding, Seoul are somehow the only team besides runaway league leaders Suwon FC to still have a chance of doing the treble this season. Currently in sixth and with only three matches left to play, while the other teams around them have four fixtures remaining, Seoul can hardly afford to put a foot wrong if they do want to qualify for the playoff for a second year running. The Amazones’ final run of fixtures could work in their favour: they face 8th-placed Gangjin this weekend before a pair of six-pointers against Mungyeong and Gyeongju. However, if they fail to beat the Swans tomorrow, Yoo Youngsil’s side will need a lot of results elsewhere to go in their favour to keep them in contention.
Over the past two years, Seoul City have shown time and time again that they are a well-managed and tenacious side, capable of causing an upset. Even with captain Kang Taekyung and vice-captain Kim Minji away on international duty they managed to hold reigning champions Hwacheon KSPO to a draw twice in September. As good a story as it would be, achieving a treble seems unlikely for Seoul, but you can count on them to make things difficult for their rivals in all competitions, especially once Kang and Kim rejoin the squad.
Sejong Sportstoto
Current league position: 5th
Highest possible finish: 3rd
Lowest possible finish: 7th
Possible trophies: 2 (WK League, W Korea Cup)
Like the other teams around them, Sejong Sportstoto have had mixed results this season as they seek to qualify for the playoff for the first time in ten years. Equal on points with Seoul City, Sportstoto have a slight advantage on goal difference as things stand. In recent years, Sejong have repeatedly started the WK League season with the stated aim of reaching the playoff, but struggled to break into the top half of the table, finishing in 5th for three consecutive years.
With a good balance of experience and emerging talent in the squad, this season Sportstoto have managed to stay in the mix, and that elusive playoff position feels closer than ever. However, unlike the other teams around them, Sejong don’t have any ‘six-pointers’ in the closing weeks of the season, so even if they go on a winning run their eventual fate may be beyond their control. Sportstoto do have to face strong opposition from both Suwon FC and Hwacheon KSPO in the coming weeks, though they may fancy their chances against Suwon tonight in front of a home crowd, with the visitors missing several key players to the Asian Games.
Whatever happens this evening, Yoon Deokyeo’s Sportstoto will also be looking ahead to next week, when they are set to face Incheon Hyundai twice — once in the league, and once in the W Korea Cup. Given that a ticket to the playoff doesn’t guarantee anything in the league (except for one extra match), Sejong’s best hope of glory this season might be in the cup. As the only WK League side not involved in the upcoming National Sports Festival, Sportstoto also benefit from a less congested October schedule compared to their rivals, so if they can beat Incheon and progress to the W Korea Cup final, they should have adequate time to focus and prepare.
Mungyeong Sangmu
Current league position: 4th
Highest possible finish: 3rd
Lowest possible finish: 6th
Possible trophies: 2 (WK League, National Sports Festival)
Mungyeong Sangmu hit the ground running early in the year, taking advantage of other clubs’ slow starts to rack up valuable points that have kept them in the top half of the table for most of the season despite a dip in form earlier in the summer. The military side has less squad turnover than other clubs, and despite losing South Korea international Noh Jinyoung to local rivals Gyeongju KHNP during this season, Sangmu have integrated newer players into the squad well, while the likes of Kwon Hahnul and Kwon Da-eun (the former in her seventeenth season with the club) continue to be reliable in front of goal.
Mungyeong are currently in 4th, just one point behind Gyeongju. The two clubs have a very similar end to the season ahead of them: they play each other tomorrow, and both face Seoul City and Suwon FC later this month. Sangmu’s final match is against Incheon Hyundai, with whom they were vying for first place earlier in the season. By the time they meet again, Incheon could be in eighth.
A member of the WK League since its foundation in 2009, Mungyeong have only finished in the top half of the table once, when they came in 4th place in 2010. Even if they drop to 5th, it would be their best finish since that year. If Sangmu are to qualify for the playoff for the first time ever, the importance of this weekend’s clash with Gyeongju cannot be overstated — KHNP have a significantly better goal difference so the army team need to overtake them in the table to progress. The two sides could meet again in the semi-finals of the National Sports Festival.
Gyeongju KHNP
Current league position: 3rd
Highest possible finish: 3rd
Lowest possible finish: 6th
Possible trophies: 2 (WK League, National Sports Festival)
After narrowly missing out on the playoff last year, KHNP started this season with a new manager, three-time WK League winner (with Icheon Daekyo) Park Namyeol. Gyeongju had a very poor start to the season, failing to achieve their first win until Round 9, and for some time it looked as if the side would be nowhere near playoff contention. KHNP have done well to climb up the table since then, but that slow start is no doubt weighing heavy on the minds of the club’s players, coaching staff and fans as they now find themselves way off the top two spots, and with serious threats from the three teams below them.
Gyeongju’s home match against Mungyeong Sangmu tomorrow afternoon is a must-win for the side to start putting distance between themselves and the rest of the pack. KHNP are unbeaten against Sangmu this season, and have the home advantage, but cannot afford to be complacent as the visitors will be equally hungry for the win. KHNP still have to face Hwacheon KSPO next week, before what could be another crucial match in the playoff race, against Seoul City.
Gyeongju will end their season with a trip to Suwon, where they narrowly missed out on a place in the WK League championship final two years ago, losing to eventual champions Suwon on penalties after a tense playoff. The rivalry between Gyeongju and Suwon is one of the most storied in the WK League, the two teams having met several times in either the playoff or the final. Sparks always fly when the two sides meet, although off the pitch there is a friendly camaraderie between their players and supporters, especially since several members of Suwon’s 2024 title-winning squad now play for the other side. If Gyeongju can hold on for third place, they will most likely face Hwacheon in the playoff, setting the stage for a potential Suwon-Gyeongju grudge match in the final, but they have a lot of work to do before that.
Leave a comment