Korea Republic Women’s National Team Eyes Asian Cup Glory Under Shin Sang-woo

The Korea Republic women’s national soccer team, led by head coach Shin Sang-woo, is determined to secure their first-ever AFC Women’s Asian Cup title and qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup [1]. The team recently navigated off-field challenges to focus on their performance in the tournament [2].

Overcoming Off-Field Obstacles

Prior to the tournament, South Korea’s players voiced concerns regarding unequal treatment compared to the men’s squad, specifically regarding transportation and accommodation. These concerns led to a threatened boycott of the March 1-21 tournament in Australia [2]. Coach Shin Sang-woo took responsibility for addressing the issues and ensuring a successful campaign [2]. The team ultimately traveled to Australia on a business-class flight, according to the Korea Football Association [2].

Strong Start to the Tournament

Korea Republic began their 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup campaign on March 2nd against Iran in Group A play on Australia’s Gold Coast [4]. They secured a 3-0 victory in that match [3]. Korea also defeated the Philippines 3-0 on March 5th [3].

Draw Against Australia and Group Stage Success

On March 8th, Korea drew 3-3 against the host nation, Australia [3]. Despite the draw, Korea finished first in their group, avoiding a potentially difficult matchup and eliminating the need to travel for the quarterfinal game [3]. Australia, in contrast, must travel approximately 3,290 km from Sydney to Perth for their quarterfinal match [3].

Quarterfinal and Semifinal Prospects

Korea will face either Vietnam or Uzbekistan in the quarterfinals, with a strong chance of advancing to the semifinals [3]. The team aims to win the championship, building on Coach Shin’s tactical decisions and the performance of young players [3].