2025 in South Korean football

Football in South Korea
Season2025
Men's football
K League 1Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
K League 2Incheon United
K3 LeagueGimhae FC 2008
K4 LeagueDangjin Citizen
Korea CupJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Women's football
WK LeagueHwacheon KSPO

This article shows a summary of the 2025 football season in South Korea.

National teams

FIFA World Cup qualification

20 March AFC third round, Group B South Korea  1–1  Oman Goyang, South Korea
20:00 UTC+9
  • Hwang Hee-chan 41'
Report Stadium: Goyang Stadium
Attendance: 35,212
Referee: Alireza Faghani (Australia)
25 March AFC third round, Group B South Korea  1–1  Jordan Suwon, South Korea
20:00 UTC+9 Report Stadium: Suwon World Cup Stadium
Attendance: 41,582
Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)
5 June AFC third round, Group B Iraq  0–2  South Korea Basra, Iraq
21:15 UTC+3 Report Stadium: Basra International Stadium
Attendance: 55,972
Referee: Yusuke Araki (Japan)
AFC third round, Group B table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  South Korea 10 6 4 0 20 7 +13 22 Qualification for World Cup
2  Jordan 10 4 4 2 16 8 +8 16
3  Iraq 10 4 3 3 9 9 0 15 Qualification for AFC fourth round
4  Oman 10 3 2 5 9 14 −5 11
5  Palestine 10 2 4 4 10 13 −3 10
6  Kuwait 10 0 5 5 7 20 −13 5
Source: AFC FIFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

EAFF Championship

Men's tournament

7 July South Korea  3–0  China Yongin, South Korea
20:00 UTC+9 Report Stadium: Yongin Mireu Stadium
Attendance: 4,426
Referee: Tuan Yaasin (Malaysia)
11 July South Korea  2–0  Hong Kong Yongin, South Korea
20:00 UTC+9 Report Stadium: Yongin Mireu Stadium
Attendance: 5,521
Referee: Ahmad A'Qashah (Singapore)
15 July South Korea  0–1  Japan Yongin, South Korea
19:24 UTC+9 Report Stadium: Yongin Mireu Stadium
Attendance: 18,418
Referee: Tuan Yaasin (Malaysia)
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  Japan (C) 3 3 0 0 9 1 +8 9
2  South Korea (H) 3 2 0 1 5 1 +4 6
3  China 3 1 0 2 1 5 −4 3
4  Hong Kong 3 0 0 3 1 9 −8 0
Source: EAFF
(C) Champions; (H) Hosts

Women's tournament

9 July South Korea  2–2  China Suwon, South Korea
20:00 UTC+9
report
Stadium: Suwon World Cup Stadium
Attendance: 923
Referee: Bùi Thị Thu Trang (Vietnam)
13 July Japan  1–1  South Korea Hwaseong, South Korea
20:00 UTC+9 report
  • Jeong Da-bin 86'
Stadium: Hwaseong Sports Complex
Attendance: 1,641
Referee: Tam Ping Wun (Hong Kong)
16 July South Korea  2–0  Chinese Taipei Suwon, South Korea
19:30 UTC+9 report Stadium: Suwon World Cup Stadium
Attendance: 597
Referee: Khin Nyein Chan (Myanmar)
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  South Korea (C, H) 3 1 2 0 5 3 +2 5[a]
2  China 3 1 2 0 6 4 +2 5[a]
3  Japan 3 1 2 0 5 1 +4 5[a]
4  Chinese Taipei 3 0 0 3 2 10 −8 0
Source: EAFF
(C) Champions; (H) Hosts
Notes:
  1. ^ a b c Head-to-head goals scored: South Korea 3, China 2, Japan 1.[1]

AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification

3 September South Korea  5–0  Macau Sidoarjo, Indonesia
15:30 UTC+7
Report Stadium: Gelora Delta Stadium
Attendance: 106
6 September Laos  0–7  South Korea Sidoarjo, Indonesia
15:30 UTC+7 Report
  • Jung Ji-hun 44'
  • Lee Kyu-dong 45+4'
  • Cho Sang-hyeok 49', 60', 90+2'
  • Park Seung-ho 69' (pen.)
  • Hwang Do-yoon 70'
Stadium: Gelora Delta Stadium
Attendance: 249
Group J table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  South Korea 3 3 0 0 13 0 +13 9 Qualification for U-23 Asian Cup
2  Indonesia (H) 3 1 1 1 5 1 +4 4
3  Laos 3 1 1 1 3 8 −5 4
4  Macau 3 0 0 3 1 13 −12 0
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts

Friendlies

Senior team

6 September United States  0–2  South Korea Harrison, United States
17:00 UTC−4 Report Stadium: Sports Illustrated Stadium
Attendance: 26,500
Referee: Reon Radix (Grenada)
9 September Mexico  2–2  South Korea Nashville, United States
20:00 UTC−5
Report Stadium: Geodis Park
Attendance: 27,604
Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr. (United States)
10 October South Korea  0–5  Brazil Seoul, South Korea
20:00 UTC+9 Report
Stadium: Seoul World Cup Stadium
Attendance: 63,237
Referee: Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (Qatar)
14 October South Korea  2–0  Paraguay Seoul, South Korea
20:00 UTC+9 Report Stadium: Seoul World Cup Stadium
Attendance: 22,206
Referee: Yusuke Araki (Japan)
14 November South Korea  2–0  Bolivia Daejeon, South Korea
20:00 UTC+9 Report Stadium: Daejeon World Cup Stadium
Attendance: 33,852
Referee: Ma Ning (China)
18 November South Korea  1–0  Ghana Seoul, South Korea
20:00 UTC+9 Report Stadium: Seoul World Cup Stadium
Attendance: 33,256
Referee: Ahmed Al-Ali (Kuwait)

Under-23 team

20 March CFA Team China 2025 South Korea  1–1  Vietnam Yancheng, China
14:30 UTC+8 Kim Woo-bin 90+5' Report Nguyễn Thanh Nhàn 53' Stadium: Yancheng Sports Center Stadium
23 March CFA Team China 2025 China  1–0  South Korea Yancheng, China
14:30 UTC+8 Liu Haofan 85' Stadium: Yancheng Sports Center Stadium
25 March CFA Team China 2025 South Korea  3–1  Uzbekistan Yancheng, China
14:30 UTC+8
Turdimurodov 90+3' Stadium: Yancheng Sports Center Stadium
5 June South Korea  0–0  Australia Yongin, South Korea
19:00 UTC+9 Report Stadium: Yongin Mireu Stadium
Attendance: 2,135
Referee: Kim Woo-sung (South Korea)
9 June South Korea  0–2  Australia Siheung, South Korea
13:00 UTC+9 Report
Stadium: Jeongwang Stadium
Attendance: 0
12 November 2025 Panda Cup South Korea  2–0  Uzbekistan Chengdu, China
15:30 UTC+8 Jung Seung-bae 56'
Kim Myung-jun 88'
Report Stadium: Shuangliu Sports Centre
15 November 2025 Panda Cup China  2–0  South Korea Chengdu, China
19:35 UTC+8 Behram Abduweli 71', 81' Report Stadium: Shuangliu Sports Centre
Attendance: 10,089
Referee: Tang Shunqi (China)

Women's team

23 February Pink Ladies Cup Thailand  0–4  South Korea Al Hamriyah, UAE
15:00 GST (UTC+4) Report
Stadium: Hamriyah CSC Stadium
26 February Pink Ladies Cup India  0–3  South Korea Al Hamriyah, UAE
11:00 GST (UTC+4) Report
  • Choi Yoo-jeong 8'
  • Choi Da-gyeong 27'
  • Moon Eun-ju 81'
Stadium: Hamriyah CSC Stadium
4 April Australia  1–0  South Korea Sydney, Australia
20:00 UTC+11 Lim Seon-joo 54' (o.g.) Report Stadium: Allianz Stadium
Attendance: 37,199
Referee: Yoshimi Yamashita (Japan)
7 April Australia  2–0  South Korea Newcastle, Australia
19:30 UTC+10 Report Stadium: McDonald Jones Stadium
Attendance: 28,019
Referee: Asaka Koizumi (Japan)
30 May South Korea  0–1  Colombia Incheon, South Korea
19:00 UTC+9 Report Usme 26' Stadium: Incheon Namdong Asiad Rugby Field
Attendance: 912
Referee: Koizumi Asaka (Japan)
2 June South Korea  1–1  Colombia Yongin, South Korea
19:00 UTC+9 Jung Min-young 2' Report Kim Jin-hui 63' (o.g.) Stadium: Yongin Mireu Stadium
Attendance: 742
Referee: Yoshimi Yamashita (Japan)
28 November Wales  1–1  South Korea Málaga, Spain
19:00
Report Referee: Caroline Lanssens (Belgium)
2 December Netherlands  5–0  South Korea Waalwijk, Netherlands
20:45
Report

Leagues

K League 1

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation[a]
1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (C) 38 23 10 5 64 32 +32 79 Qualification for Champions League Elite league stage
2 Daejeon Hana Citizen 38 18 11 9 58 46 +12 65
3 Gimcheon Sangmu[b] 38 18 7 13 59 45 +14 61
4 Pohang Steelers 38 16 8 14 41 46 −5 56 Qualification for Champions League Elite play-off round
5 Gangwon FC 38 13 13 12 37 41 −4 52 Qualification for Champions League Two group stage
6 FC Seoul 38 12 13 13 50 52 −2 49
7 Gwangju FC 38 15 9 14 40 41 −1 54
8 FC Anyang 38 14 7 17 49 47 +2 49
9 Ulsan HD 38 11 11 16 42 50 −8 44
10 Suwon FC (R) 38 11 9 18 51 58 −7 42 Qualification for relegation play-offs
11 Jeju SK (O) 38 10 9 19 40 53 −13 39
12 Daegu FC (R) 38 7 13 18 47 67 −20 34 Relegation to K League 2
Source: Soccerway K League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference; 4) Wins; 5) Head-to-head points
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Teams played each other three times (33 matches), before the league was split into two groups, the top six and the bottom six.
  2. ^ Military-owned team Gimcheon Sangmu cannot qualify for AFC competitions.

K League 2

Regular season

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or qualification
1 Incheon United (C, P) 39 23 9 7 66 30 +36 78 Promotion to K League 1
2 Suwon Samsung Bluewings 39 20 12 7 76 50 +26 72 Qualification for promotion play-offs final round
3 Bucheon FC 1995 (O, P) 39 19 10 10 59 49 +10 67 Qualification for promotion play-offs second round
4 Seoul E-Land 39 17 14 8 64 43 +21 65 Qualification for promotion play-offs first round
5 Seongnam FC 39 17 13 9 46 32 +14 64
6 Jeonnam Dragons 39 17 11 11 63 52 +11 62
7 Gimpo FC 39 14 13 12 48 37 +11 55
8 Busan IPark 39 14 13 12 47 46 +1 55
9 Chungnam Asan 39 13 14 12 51 47 +4 53
10 Hwaseong FC 39 9 13 17 36 50 −14 40
11 Gyeongnam FC 39 11 7 21 34 58 −24 40
12 Chungbuk Cheongju 39 7 10 22 30 62 −32 31
13 Cheonan City 39 7 9 23 41 70 −29 30
14 Ansan Greeners 39 5 12 22 25 60 −35 27
Source: K League Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference; 4) Wins; 5) Head-to-head points
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted

Promotion play-offs

First round Second round Final 2
           
3 Bucheon FC 1995 0
5 Seongnam FC 0
4 Seoul E-Land 0
5 Seongnam FC 1
Bucheon FC 1995 1 3 4
Suwon FC 0 2 2
Final 1
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 0 0 0
Jeju SK 1 2 3

K3 League

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Gimhae FC 2008 (C, P) 28 18 7 3 48 20 +28 61 Promotion to K League 2[a]
2 Siheung Citizen 28 17 6 5 45 25 +20 57
3 Pocheon Citizen 28 16 7 5 47 28 +19 55
4 Daejeon Korail 28 14 7 7 48 32 +16 49
5 Gyeongju KHNP 28 12 9 7 34 29 +5 45
6 Busan Transportation Corporation 28 14 2 12 35 34 +1 44
7 Changwon FC 28 12 7 9 31 23 +8 43
8 Yangpyeong FC 28 13 4 11 27 24 +3 43
9 Yeoju FC 28 10 6 12 31 35 −4 36
10 Paju Citizen (P) 28 10 6 12 27 32 −5 36 Promotion to K League 2[a]
11 Gangneung Citizen 28 8 7 13 38 45 −7 31
12 Chuncheon FC 28 9 3 16 27 37 −10 30
13 Ulsan Citizen 28 5 6 17 20 38 −18 21
14 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors N 28 5 5 18 28 51 −23 20
15 FC Mokpo (O) 28 4 4 20 18 51 −33 16 Qualification for relegation play-off
Source: JoinKFA Sofascore
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Wins
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Promoted after getting a license for K League 2.

K4 League

Regular season

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion
1 Dangjin Citizen (C, P) 30 16 3 11 72 54 +18 51 Promotion to 2026 K3 League
2 Namyangju FC 30 15 6 9 47 33 +14 51 Qualification for promotion play-off
3 Pyeongchang United 30 13 10 7 49 38 +11 49
4 Jinju Citizen 30 14 7 9 55 48 +7 49
5 Gijang United 30 15 4 11 45 40 +5 49
6 Geoje Citizen 30 14 6 10 63 49 +14 48
7 Daegu FC B 30 13 9 8 44 30 +14 48
8 Yeoncheon FC 30 10 7 13 39 61 −22 37
9 Pyeongtaek Citizen 30 8 8 14 46 64 −18 32
10 Sejong SA 30 7 8 15 45 56 −11 29
11 Seoul Jungnang 30 4 4 22 44 76 −32 16
Source: JoinKFA Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Wins
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted

Promotion play-off

The promotion play-off was contested between the 15th-placed team of K3 League and the runners-up of K4 League.

FC Mokpo1–0Namyangju FC
Ryu Yeon-joon 63' Report

WK League

Regular season

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Hwacheon KSPO 28 16 9 3 56 23 +33 57 Qualification for Championship
2 Seoul City 28 15 9 4 48 28 +20 54 Qualification for Play-off
3 Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels 28 13 9 6 35 26 +9 48
4 Gyeongju KHNP 28 12 7 9 47 38 +9 43
5 Sejong Sportstoto 28 9 9 10 30 32 −2 36
6 Mungyeong Sangmu 28 8 8 12 35 37 −2 32
7 Suwon FC 28 5 9 14 27 45 −18 24
8 Changnyeong WFC 28 2 4 22 17 66 −49 10
Source: Soccerway

Championship play-offs

Play-off
(Semi-final)
Championship
(Finals)
1 Hwacheon KSPO 3 4 7
2 Seoul City 0 Seoul City 2 3 5
3 Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels 0

Final table

Pos Team Qualification
1 Hwacheon KSPO (C) Qualification for Champions League
2 Seoul City
3 Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels
Source:
(C) Champions

Domestic cups

Korea Cup

 
Round of 16
(Fourth round)
Quarter-finals
(Fifth round)
Semi-finals
(Sixth round)
Final
(Seventh round)
 
                      
 
 
 
 
Suwon FC1 (3)
 
 
 
Gwangju FC (p)1 (4)
 
Gwangju FC1
 
 
 
Ulsan HD0
 
Ulsan HD3
 
 
 
Incheon United0
 
Gwangju FC224
 
 
 
Bucheon FC 1995011
 
Gimpo FC2
 
 
 
Pohang Steelers1
 
Gimpo FC1
 
 
 
Bucheon FC 19953
 
Bucheon FC 1995 (a.e.t.)3
 
 
 
Gimcheon Sangmu1
 
Gwangju FC1
 
 
 
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (a.e.t.)2
 
Daejeon Korail1
 
 
 
FC Seoul2
 
FC Seoul0
 
 
 
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors1
 
Daejeon Hana Citizen2
 
 
 
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors3
 
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors123
 
 
 
Gangwon FC112
 
FC Anyang1
 
 
 
Daegu FC2
 
Daegu FC1
 
 
 
Gangwon FC2
 
Gangwon FC2
 
 
Siheung Citizen1
 

International cups

AFC Champions League Elite

2024–25 season

The previous six league stage matches were held in 2024.

Team Result Round Aggregate Score Venue Opponent
Gwangju FC Quarter-finals League East Fourth place 1–3 Cancelled Away Shandong Taishan
2–2 Home Buriram United
Round of 16 3–2 0–2 Away Vissel Kobe
3–0 (a.e.t.) Home
Quarter-finals 0–7 0–7 Al-Hilal
Pohang Steelers League stage League East Ninth place 0–4 Home Kawasaki Frontale
2–5 Away Johor Darul Ta'zim
Ulsan HD League stage League East Tenth place 1–2 Away Buriram United
Cancelled Home Shandong Taishan

2025–26 season

The other two league stage matches and the next rounds were held in 2026.

Team Round Score Venue Opponent
FC Seoul League East 1–1 Away Machida Zelvia
3–0 Home Buriram United
0–2 Away Shanghai Shenhua
0–0 Home Chengdu Rongcheng
3–1 Away Shanghai Port
1–1 Home Melbourne City
Gangwon FC League East 2–1 Home Shanghai Shenhua
0–1 Away Chengdu Rongcheng
4–3 Home Vissel Kobe
0–1 Away Sanfrecce Hiroshima
1–3 Home Machida Zelvia
2–2 Away Buriram United
Ulsan HD League East 2–1 Home Chengdu Rongcheng
1–1 Away Shanghai Shenhua
1–0 Home Sanfrecce Hiroshima
0–1 Away Vissel Kobe
0–0 Home Buriram United
1–3 Away Machida Zelvia

AFC Champions League Two

2024–25 season

The previous group stage matches were held in 2024.

Team Result Round Aggregate Score Venue Opponent
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Quarter-finals Round of 16 5–0 4–0 Away Port
1–0 Home
Quarter-finals 2–5 0–2 Home Sydney FC
2–3 Away

2025–26 season

The next rounds after the group stage were held in 2026.

Team Result Round Aggregate Score Venue Opponent
Pohang Steelers Knockout stage Group H Runners-up 1–0 Away BG Pathum United
2–0 Home
2–0 Home Kaya–Iloilo
1–0 Away
0–1 Away Tampines Rovers
1–1 Home

AFC Women's Champions League

2024–25 season

The previous group stage matches were held in 2024.

Team Result Round Aggregate Score Venue Opponent
Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels Semi-finals Quarter-finals 1–0 1–0 Bam Khatoon
Semi-finals 0–1 0–1 Melbourne City

2025–26 season

The next rounds after the group stage were held in 2026.

Team Result Round Aggregate Score Venue Opponent
Suwon FC Knockout stage Group C Third place 5–0 ISPE
0–3 Naegohyang
0–0 Tokyo Verdy Beleza

See also

References

  1. ^ "EAFF E-1 Football Championship 2025 Final Korea". EAFF. Retrieved 16 July 2025.