Some of the Hong Myung-bo players will be tested for doping in a group a day before the game.
Since the doping test protocol itself is an unexpected check, there is no problem in itself to target athletes for doping tests on the eve of the game, but it is true that there is a concern that it will interfere with the conditions of the athletes who are making every effort to prepare a day before the important game.
The South Korean national soccer team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, will hold a home game against Iraq at Yongin Mir Stadium on the 15th in Group B of the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA North-China U.S. World Cup (co-hosted by Canada, the U.S., and Mexico).
Hong will once again be in contention for the lead, following a third match against Jordan. Korea and Iraq currently have the same points with seven, but Korea leads Group B on the difference between gains and losses.
South Korea came back from a 2-0 victory against Jordan in the third match against Jordan in Amman, Jordan’s capital, on the 10th with consecutive goals by Lee Jae-sung and Oh Hyun-kyu. Hong Myung-bo, who seemed to be shaken by a 0-0 draw at home against Palestine last month, has been winning two consecutive games since then.
Team Korea started quenching before the Iraq match at Yongin Mir Stadium in the afternoon of the 14th, the eve of the match. However, as some of the players were suddenly put to doping tests, the start of the training was delayed. Originally, the time was announced at 4 p.m., but the training could not begin until 4:40 p.m.
A source at the Korea Football Association said, “The training was delayed due to doping tests.” The Korea Football Association said that eight players were suddenly tested for doping after receiving notice from the Korea Anti-Doping Commission an hour before the training.
The athletes’ training was carried out as usual. They exercised heat through light jogging, performed simple drills, and conducted Rondo training.
There is no problem with testing itself, but it is worth worrying that the rhythm of the players is broken at a time when they have to put everything into conditioning a day before the game.
According to a source at the Korea Football Association, Coach Hong Myung-bo asked 꽁머니 KADA to allow athletes to take doping tests before and after training, fearing that his condition would be compromised. KADA accepted the request and remained in the training site while the training was underway.
Coach Hong said, “I was worried that the bio-rhythm that the players should keep, including meals and training hours, would be broken. Even small changes can affect the game on the eve of a match.
Fortunately, the team does not undergo doping tests on the day of competition. There is no problem even if a doping test is conducted on the day of competition, but the same-day test will inevitably have a bigger impact on the athletes’ conditions. Hong Myung-bo should be relieved that he underwent the test on the day before competition.
Given that Coach Hong Myung-bo is sensitive to unpredictable variables such as doping tests, one can guess how important the upcoming match against Iraq is. South Korea must win in the match against Iraq to get closer to the finals of the North-China World Cup.