Women’s World Cup 2023: Everything you need to know about Korea Republic

Korea Republic′s World Cup 2023 fixtures:

You can read all about Colombia, Morocco and Germany by clicking on their names here.

How did Korea Republic qualify?

South Korea qualified by reaching the final of the 2022 Asia Cup. They went through the group stages unbeaten, beat Australia 1-0 and Philippines 2-0 before a 3-2 defeat to China PR in the final.

Korea Republic’s major tournament record

World Cup

Best World Cup result: Round of 16- 2015.

AFC Asia Cup

Best Asia Cup result: Finalists- 2022.

Korea Republic at World Cup 2023

Can Korea Republic go further than they ever have before at a World Cup?

This’ll be the Taegeuk Ladies’ fourth appearance at this tournament and, to date, they’ve won just one game.

Back in 2015, South Korea came from behind to beat Spain in Ottawa, a result that saw them sneak into the round of 16, where they were swatted aside by France at Montréal’s Stade Olympique.

Four years later, the Koreans endured a miserable time in France, losing all three matches, smashed 4-0 by the hosts in the tournament’s opener, before a 2-0 defeat to Nigeria and a 2-1 reverse at the hands of Norway.

Admittedly, it’s a low bar, but they’ll certainly be hoping to do better than that.

Since then, South Korea have reached the 2022 Asia Cup Final, ousting Australia and Philippines en route before losing 3-2 to China PR in the final itself, despite leading 2-0 at half time of that one in Navi Mumbai.

That was actually Korea Republic’s first-ever appearance in a major final, having previously lost in four semis, throwing away an amazing chance to lift major silverware.

Earlier this year, Colin Bell’s team were over in England for the Arnold Clark Cup, a February friendly tournament.

However, concerningly, Korea lost all three games, demolished 4-0 by England before back-to-back 2-1 defeats at the hands of Belgium and Italy, who are far from European heavyweights.

The serious business starts for South Korea on 25 July when they’ll take on Colombia at Sydney Football Stadium.

After that, they’ll travel to Adelaide to face Morocco, before the daunting prospect of meeting two-times World Champions Germany in Brisbane.

While the Germans are likely to cruise to first place, second spot in Group H is up for grabs, although Korea Republic don’t appear well-placed to seize this opportunity.

Given that their final game is against Germany, they’ll surely need to have, at least, four points on the board before then, to stand any chance of advancing.

Korea Republic team news

Jang Chang missed out due to injury, while Lee Min-a, Jung Seol-bin and Park Ye-eun did not make the final 23-player squad.

American-born uncapped 16 year old Casey Yu-Jin Phai, was surprisingly included in Colin Bell’s squad, becoming the first multiracial footballer, male or female, to be called up by Korea Republic.

Korea Republic′s key players: Cho So-hyun

35 year old midfielder Cho So-hyun has a whopping 144 caps to her name, but will add to that tally as she continues to be a mainstay in this Korean midfield.

Cho captained her country at the 2015 World Cup in Canada, bagging the equaliser against Spain as the Taegeuk Ladies went on to claim their first, and so far only, World Cup victory.

She was also captain in 2019, a tournament that didn’t go so well, and will once again be proudly donning the armband this summer.

At club level, Cho has been playing in the FAWSL since 2019, first with West Ham United before moving across London to Tottenham Hotspur in 2021.

This season, she only made 12 appearances for Spurs, but remains a key figure for her national team, scoring twice in April’s 5-2 friendly win over Zambia in Suwon.

Korea Republic′s key players: Lee Geum-min

Another midfielder based in England here, with Lee Geum-min of Brighton & Hove Albion.

Lee made 28 appearances for the Seagulls this season, scoring six goals, netting against Reading, Manchester City and Spurs in the FAWSL.

The 29 year old moved the Sussex three summers ago, having previously spent a season at Man City, not making much of an impact there.

For South Korea, she’s accumulated 80 caps and scored 26 goals, netting against Belgium in Coventry back in February before scoring five times across two meetings with Zambia two months later.

Korea Republic′s key players: Ji So-yun

South Korea’s most high-profile women’s player of all-time is Ji So-yun.

During eight seasons with Chelsea, she won 13 major honours, including six WSL titles and four FA Cups, scoring the only goal at Wembley against Notts County in the cup final victory of 2015.

In total, Ji netted 39 times for the Blues, and is widely considered a club legend in West London.

Last summer, she moved back to South Korea, joining Suwon FC, for whom she scored six goals in six appearances in the second half of 2022.

For the Taegeuk Ladies, Ji is their record goal-scorer of all-time, scoring 66 goal, on target against Japan at the 2012 Olympics and against Costa Rica at the World Cup three summers later.

Her most-recent international goal came against Italy at Ashton Gate earlier this year showing, despite being 32 year old, Ji can still compete at the highest level.

Korea Republic′s possible starting line-up for World Cup 2023

Korea Republic′s full squad for World Cup 2023

Goalkeepers

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards

FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Group H table