2026 K League 1

Hana Bank
K League 1
Season2026
Dates28 February – 6 December 2026
CountrySouth Korea
Teams12
Matches28
Goals61 (2.18 per match)
Top goalscorer Yago Cariello (Ulsan HD)
(4 goals)
Biggest home winFC Seoul 5-0 Gwangju
(22 March)
Biggest away winIncheon United 1-3 Daejeon Hana Citizen
(18 March)
Longest winning run4
Seoul
Longest unbeaten run4
Daejeon, Gwangju, Gimcheon
Longest winless run4
Gimcheon, Incheon, Jeju
Longest losing run3
Jeju SK
Highest attendance24.122
FC Seoul 5-0 Gwangju
(22 March)
Lowest attendance1,044
Gimcheon Sangmu 1-1 Gwangju
(17 March)
Total attendance250,497
Average attendance8,946
← 2025
2027 →
All statistics correct as of 22 March 2026.

The 2026 K League 1, also known as the Hana Bank K League 1 for sponsorship reasons, is the ongoing 44th season of the top division of professional football in South Korea, and the thirteen season of the K League 1. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors is the defending champion.[1] Gangwon FC will play all their own home matches at Gangneung Stadium, Gangneung only.

Rule changes

The following rules were newly introduced for the 2026 season.[2]

  1. Abolish the quota on the number of foreign players a club may register but maximum of five foreign players will be permitted on the pitch or in the matchday squad.
  2. Foreign goalkeepers can be registered as ban lifted after 26 years.
  3. Clubs will now have five substitutions and the U22 mandatory appearance rule is lifted. However, the 20-man matchday squad still requires a minimum of two U22 players. Missing this threshold results in a reduced squad size (19 players for one U22, 18 for none).
  4. The affiliation agreement between the K League, the Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps (Sangmu), and Gimcheon City expires at the end of 2026. As a result, if either Gimcheon establishes a new citizen-owned club or the Armed Forces Athletic Corps moves and forms a new K League club in a different city, both new clubs will enter the K League 2 competition starting in 2027.
  5. Starting with the 2027 season, K League 1 will feature 14 clubs. As a result, 2026 K League 2's top two teams and the winner of the final of promotion play-offs of K League 2 will be automatically promoted to 2027 K League 1. The losing finalists of promotion play-offs of K League 2 may also be promoted if they win the K League 1 relegation play-offs, which can only be held if Gimcheon Sangmu doesn't finish the season last at the table.

Teams

Team changes

Bucheon FC 1995 were promoted from the K League 2 for the first time in the club's history,[3][4] while Incheon United was promoted immediately after relegation in 2024.

Bucheon return to top tier since 1996 as Bucheon Yukong and 1997 as Bucheon SK before Yukong Elephants until 1995, when relocate to Jeju and change name to Jeju United from 2006 until 2024, change again to Jeju SK from 2025 onwards.

Suwon FC and Daegu FC were relegated to the K League 2 after five and ten years in top tier.[5][6]

Promoted from K League 2 Relegated to K League 2

Locations

The following twelve clubs are competing in the 2025 K League 1.[7]

Team City/Province Abbreviation
FC Anyang Anyang Anyang
Bucheon FC 1995 Bucheon Bucheon
Daejeon Hana Citizen Daejeon Daejeon
Gangwon FC Gangwon Gangwon
Gimcheon Sangmu Gimcheon Gimcheon
Gwangju FC Gwangju Gwangju
Incheon United Incheon Incheon
Jeju SK Jeju Jeju
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Jeonbuk Jeonbuk
Pohang Steelers Pohang Pohang
FC Seoul Seoul Seoul
Ulsan HD Ulsan Ulsan
Locations of the 2026 K League 1 teams
7km
4.3miles
Locations of the 2026 K League 1 teams in the Seoul Capital Area

Stadiums

FC Anyang Bucheon FC 1995 Daejeon Hana Citizen Gangwon FC
Anyang Stadium Bucheon Stadium Daejeon World Cup Stadium Gangneung Stadium
Capacity: 17,143 Capacity: 34,456 Capacity: 40,903 Capacity: 22,333
Gimcheon Sangmu Gwangju FC Incheon United Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Gimcheon Stadium Gwangju World Cup Stadium Incheon Football Stadium Jeonju World Cup Stadium
Capacity: 25,000 Capacity: 40,245 Capacity: 20,891 Capacity: 42,477
Jeju SK Pohang Steelers FC Seoul Ulsan HD
Jeju World Cup Stadium Pohang Steel Yard Seoul World Cup Stadium Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium
Capacity: 29,791 Capacity: 17,443 Capacity: 66,704 Capacity: 44,102

Personnel and sponsoring

Team Manager Kit manufacturer Main sponsor Other sponsor(s)
FC Anyang Ryu Byeong-hoon V-EXX Harrington Place (Apartment brand)
List
    • Front: None
    • Back: None
    • Sleeves: None
    • Shorts: None
Bucheon FC 1995 Lee Young-min Kelme Bucheon Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine
List
    • Front: Bastem
    • Back: Wawabuza
    • Sleeves: Bucheon City
    • Shorts: None
Daejeon Hana Citizen Hwang Sun-hong Goal Studio Hana Bank
List
Gangwon FC Chung Kyung-ho Applerind High1 Resort
List
Gimcheon Sangmu Ju Seung-jin Kelme Happy Gimcheon
List
Gwangju FC Lee Jung-kyu Goal Studio Kwangju Bank
List
    • Front: None
    • Back: None
    • Sleeves: Parangsae Eye Clinic, Gwangju City
    • Shorts: Namhai Honnête
Incheon United Yoon Jong-hwan Macron IFEZ
List
Jeju SK Sergio Costa V-EXX SK Energy
List
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Chung Jung-yong Adidas NEXO
List
Pohang Steelers Park Tae-ha Puma POSCO
List
FC Seoul Kim Gi-dong Pro-Specs Xi (home)
GS Caltex (away)
List
Ulsan HD Kim Hyun-seok Adidas HD Hyundai
List

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Table Replaced by Date of appointment
Jeju SK Kim Jung-soo (Interim) End of Interim 1 December 2025 Pre-season Sergio Costa [8] 24 December 2025
Ulsan HD Roh Sang-rae (Interim) Kim Hyun-seok [9]
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Gus Poyet [10] Resigned 8 December 2025 Chung Jung-yong [11]
Gwangju FC Lee Jung-hyo [12] Mutual agreement 21 December 2025 Lee Jung-kyu [13]
Gimcheon Sangmu Chung Jung-yong [14] 24 December 2025 Ju Seung-jin [15] 31 December 2025

Foreign players

Each team may have up to six foreign players registered, but may only field up to five at any given time.[16] As a military-owned team, Gimcheon Sangmu are not allowed to sign any foreign players.

A North Korean player is considered to be a domestic player under South Korean nationality law. As of 2025, K League has a homegrown system under which players of foreign nationality who have grown up in Korea are considered to be domestic players when registering as new players.

Players in bold were registered during the mid-season transfer window. Players in italics left their respective clubs during the mid-season transfer window.

Team Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5 Player 6 Player 7 Homegrown player (s) Former player (s)[a]
FC Anyang Ivan Jukić Airton Breno Herculano Matheus Oliveira Thomas Oude Kotte
Bucheon FC 1995 Jefferson Galego Patrick William Rodrigo Bassani Thiaguinho Santos Vitor Gabriel Jhon Montaño Kazuki Takahashi
Daejeon Hana Citizen Anton Kryvotsyuk Diogo João Victor Victor Bobsin Masatoshi Ishida Gustav Ludwigson
Gangwon FC Abdallah Hleihel Marko Tući
Gwangju FC Hólmbert Friðjónsson
Incheon United Gerso Fernandes Morgan Ferrier Stefan Mugoša Iker Undabarrena Juan Ibiza
Jeju SK Emerson Negueba Italo Julien Célestine Gytis Paulauskas Tobias Figueiredo
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Bruno Mota Oberdan Tiago Orobó Patrick Twumasi Andrea Compagno João Gamboa
Pohang Steelers Jorge Teixeira Juninho Rocha Wanderson Jakob Tranziska Kento Nishiya
FC Seoul Anderson Leonardo Acevedo Hrvoje Babec Yazan Al-Arab Patryk Klimala Aleksandar Paločević Juan Antonio Ros Gbato Seloh Samuel
Ulsan HD Erick Farias Marcão Pedrinho Yago Cariello Miłosz Trojak Darijan Bojanić Benji Michel
  1. ^ Left their respective clubs during the mid-season transfer window.

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation[a]
1 FC Seoul 4 4 0 0 10 2 +8 12 Qualification for Champions League Elite league stage
2 Ulsan HD 4 3 1 0 7 2 +5 10
3 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 5 2 2 1 6 5 +1 8 Qualification for Champions League Elite play-off round
4 Daejeon Hana Citizen 5 1 3 1 6 5 +1 6
5 Bucheon FC 1995 5 1 3 1 5 5 0 6
6 Gwangju FC 5 1 3 1 4 8 −4 6
7 FC Anyang 5 1 2 2 5 6 −1 5
8 Gimcheon Sangmu[b] (R) 5 0 5 0 4 4 0 5 Relegation to K League 2
9 Incheon United 5 1 1 3 6 9 −3 4
10 Gangwon FC 4 0 3 1 3 5 −2 3
11 Pohang Steelers 4 0 3 1 2 3 −1 3
12 Jeju SK 5 0 2 3 3 7 −4 2 Qualification for relegation play-offs except Gimcheon Sangmu
Updated to match(es) played on 22 March 2026. Source: Soccerway K League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference; 4) Wins; 5) Head-to-head points
(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. Gimcheon Sangmu will be relegated to K League 2 2027 season regardless of their own final place.

Positions by matchday

  Leaders, qualification for Champions League Elite league stage
  Qualification for Champions League Elite play-off round
  Qualification for Champions League Two group stage
  Qualification for relegation play-offs
  Relegation to K League 2

Round 1–33

Team ╲ Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233
FC Seoul3PP221
Ulsan HD1PP112
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors108853
Daejeon Hana Citizen46634
Bucheon FC 199521555
Gwangju FC82446
FC Anyang42357
Gimcheon Sangmu46688
Incheon United111110119
Gangwon FC12PP111010
Pohang Steelers4PP9911
Jeju SK810111212
Updated to match(es) played on 22 March 2026. Source: K League

Results

Matches 1–22

Teams will play each other twice, once at home, once away.

Home \ Away AYG BCN DHC GWN GCS GJU ICU JSK JHM PHS SEO USH
FC Anyang — 0–1 2–1
Bucheon FC 1995 — 1–1 0–0 1–2
Daejeon Hana Citizen 1–1 — 1–1 0–1
Gangwon FC 1–1 — 1–1
Gimcheon Sangmu — 1–1 1–1 1–1
Gwangju FC — 3–2 0–0
Incheon United 1–3 — 1–2
Jeju SK 0–0 — 1–2 0–2
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2–1 2–3 —
Pohang Steelers 0–0 28 Mar 1–1 — 0–1
FC Seoul 5–0 —
Ulsan HD 3–1 0–0 15 Apr —
Updated to match(es) played on 22 March 2026. Source: K League 1 schedule
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Matches 23–33

Teams will play each other once, either at home or away.

Home \ Away AYG BCN DHC GWN GCS GJU ICU JSK JHM PHS SEO USH
FC Anyang —
Bucheon FC 1995 —
Daejeon Hana Citizen —
Gangwon FC —
Gimcheon Sangmu —
Gwangju FC —
Incheon United —
Jeju SK —
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors —
Pohang Steelers —
FC Seoul —
Ulsan HD —
First match(es) will be played: 15 August 2026. Source:
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Matches 34–38

Teams will play each other once, either at home or away.

Final A

Final B

Relegation play-off

The twelfth-placed team, unless being Gimcheon Sangmu, will play against the loser of the final of the promotion play-offs of the K League 2 in the relegation play-offs.


Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Loser of the final of the promotion play-offs of K League 2 agg. 12th place team of K League 1(except Gimcheon Sangmu) 1st leg 2nd leg
v
v

Statistics

Top goalscorers

Rank Player[17] Team Goals
1 Yago Cariello Ulsan HD 4
Stefan Mugoša Incheon United
3 Jefferson Galego Bucheon FC 1995 3
Matheus Oliveira FC Anyang
Lee Dong-jun Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
6 Abdallah Hleihel Gangwon FC 2
Cho Young-wook FC Seoul
Lee Seung-mo FC Seoul
Patryk Klimala FC Seoul
Juan Antonio Ros FC Seoul
Seo Jin-su Daejeon Hana Citizen
Go Jae-hyeon Gimcheon Sangmu
Bruno Mota Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Sin Chang-moo Gwangju FC

Top assist providers

Rank Player[17] Team Assists
1 Moon Seon-min FC Seoul 2
Lee Dong-gyeong Ulsan HD
Lee Jung-taek Gimcheon Sangmu
4 32 players 1

Awards

Weekly awards

Monthly awards

Month Player of the Month Young Player of the Month Goal of the Month
Player Club Player Club Player Club
February–March
April
May
July
August
September
October
November
Month Manager of the Month Save of the Month
Manager Club Div. Player Club
February–March
April
May
July
August
September
October
November

Annual awards

Award Winner Club
Most Valuable Player
Young Player of the Year
Top goalscorer
Top assist provider
Manager of the Year
Position Best XI
Goalkeeper
Defenders
Midfielders
Forwards

Attendance

Attendants who entered with free ticket are not counted.

See also

  • 2026 in South Korean football
  • 2026–27 Korea Cup
  • 2026 K League 2
  • 2026 K3 League
  • 2026 K4 League

References

  1. ^ "The K League 1 Wrap-Up: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Win the Title".
  2. ^ "K League 1 set for shake-up in 2026, 2027".
  3. ^ "Bucheon FC 1995 Secures Historic Promotion to K League 1".
  4. ^ "Incheon United Sweeps K League 2 Title, Awards, Promotion".
  5. ^ "Daegu FC has been demoted".
  6. ^ "Suwon FC Relegated After Benching Top Scorer Ssabak". The Chosun Daily. 9 December 2025. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
  7. ^ "기록" [Records]. K League. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  8. ^ "[오피셜] '변화와 혁신' 제주SK FC, 신임 감독으로 파울로 벤투 '오른팔' 세르지우 코스타 선임..."그 어느 때보다 정말 진심을 다할 것"".
  9. ^ "[오피셜] 10년 만에 '파이널 B' 추락, 재건 나선 울산···신임 감독에 '레전드' 김현석 감독 선임 "울산 재도약 하도록 최선 다하겠다"".
  10. ^ "Jeonbuk confirm departure of title-winning coach Poyet".
  11. ^ "프로축구 전북, 정정용, 신임 감독 선임…'빅클럽' 사령탑 첫 도전"".
  12. ^ "와신상담' 수원, '정효볼' 영입".
  13. ^ "[오피셜] '포스트 이정효 시대' 광주FC 이정규, 제 8대 정식 감독 선임".
  14. ^ "정정용 감독, K리그1 전북 사령탑 선임…빅클럽 첫 도전".
  15. ^ "정정용 떠난 K리그1 김천, 새 사령탑에 주승진 감독 선임".
  16. ^ Paik, Ji-hwan (6 December 2023). "K League to relax Asian quota in 2025, count 'homegrown' foreign players as Korean". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  17. ^ a b "K LEAGUE / Record".
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