LIVE UPDATES
Son Heung-min criticized the poor condition of South Korea's pitches for their struggles in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers following a 1-1 draw with Jordan, which left their automatic qualification status hanging in the balance.
After drawing with Oman last week, the Koreans were held to a home draw for the second consecutive match on Tuesday, maintaining a fragile lead at the top of Asian qualifying Group B, with an upcoming away match against third-placed Iraq.
Their two qualifiers in March were relocated from Seoul due to the inadequate pitch at the capital's stadium, but team captain Son noted that the playing surface still wasn't up to standard, directing his frustration at the country's football officials.
“When we play at home, we should have the best possible playing conditions, yet nothing has improved,” the Tottenham forward stated to reporters following the match in Suwon. “I’m aware we can perform better, but when the conditions on our own ground hinder us, I start to question how we can leverage our home advantage.”
Issues with poor pitches have been a recurring problem in South Korean football, with former Manchester United and England player Jesse Lingard also expressing his concerns last month.
Lingard, currently with FC Seoul in the K League, stumbled over a patch of turf while playing at home and subsequently voiced his frustrations on social media. Additionally, South Korea's World Cup qualifier against Iraq in October of the previous year was moved from the capital due to the subpar playing conditions.
“I understand this might come off as an excuse, but every little detail counts in football,” Son remarked. “It could mean the difference between earning one point or securing three points. I hope people will focus more on this issue.”
Lee Jae-sung had given South Korea an early lead in the fifth minute, only for Jordan to level the score later in the first half. As a result, the Koreans sit atop Group B with 16 points, three ahead of Jordan and four clear of Iraq, who faced a surprising 2-1 defeat against Palestine. The top two teams qualify automatically for the World Cup in 2026, set to take place in North America. South Korea's next match is against Iraq away before they conclude their campaign with a home game against Kuwait.
“Despite this disappointment, we remain at the top of the group, and that's a fact,” Son stated. “We aim to stay there until the end of the round.”
