Klinsmann on unusual \15 minute\ meeting \booking Asian Cup acco
South Korea national soccer team head coach Jürgen Klinsmann meets with players before training ahead of the second Asian qualifier for the FIFA Confederations Cup North America 2026 at Mokdong Stadium in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, South Korea, Thursday afternoon. Klinsmann"s men will play Singapore at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on Nov. 16 and China at the Shenzhen Universiade Sports Center on Nov. 21.
South Korea national soccer team coach Jürgen Klinsmann (GER) gave a rare 15-minute speech to his players ahead of the second Asian qualifier for the 2026 North and Central American World Cup. Klinsmann, who is known for his free-spirited approach to the game, wanted to get the team in the right frame of mind as the World Cup qualifiers approached.
Klinsmann"s men will take on Singapore in the first match of Group C of the North and Central American World Cup Asia Second Qualifying Round at 8 p.m. on Sept. 16 at Seoul World Cup Stadium. After the home game, the team will travel to Shenzhen, China, on Sept. 19 to face China in the second leg on Sept. 21.
Members of the South Korea national soccer team meet with head coach Jürgen Klinsmann before training ahead of the second Asian qualifier for the FIFA Confederations Cup North America 2026 at Mokdong Stadium in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, Thursday afternoon. Klinsmann"s men will play Singapore at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on Nov. 16 and China at the Shenzhen Universiade Sports Center on Nov. 21.
After only 11 players participated in the first training session at Mokdong Sports Complex on Nov. 13, the full 23-man squad gathered for the second day of training at the same venue. Oh Hyun-gyu (Celtic) and Cho Kyu-sung (Meatwillan), who arrived on the morning of the 14th, also joined the training session.
At 4 p.m., the players warmed up lightly and Klinsmann called the players and staff together in the middle of the field.
We weren"t able to get too many details, but Klinsmann"s standing meeting lasted about 15 minutes. The players, including captain Son Heung-min (Tottenham), listened intently.
South Korea national soccer team head coach Jürgen Klinsmann meets with players before training ahead of the second Asian qualifier for the FIFA Confederations Cup North America 2026 at Mokdong Stadium in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, South Korea, Thursday afternoon. Klinsmann"s men will play Singapore at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on Nov. 16 and China at the Shenzhen Universiade Sports Center on Nov. 21.
"It was the first training with all 23 players, so the coach"s story was a bit long," said an official from the Korea Football Association (KFA), explaining, "There were a lot of things that needed to be communicated, such as the behaviors that need to be followed as we approach the World Cup qualifiers."
In addition to the North and Central American World Cup qualifiers, Klinsmann also reminded the team about the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup in Qatar next January.
"Coach Klinsmann gave various motivational speeches to the players," said the KFA official. "He encouraged them to bring their families to the Asian Cup, and he also told them that they should book their hotel rooms by the final day."