Football (Soccer)
South Korea Reaches Asian Games Final After Comeback Against China
South Korea has reached the men's football final at the 2026 Asian Games after coming from behind to defeat China 2-1 in Osaka.
The result sends the defending champions into a fourth consecutive Asian Games final, where they will face Japan on Saturday in a highly anticipated regional showdown.
South Korea completes another comeback
China took the lead in the semi-final and appeared capable of causing a major upset.
South Korea, however, responded in the second half. Lee Young-jun equalized before Bae Jun-ho completed the comeback in the 82nd minute.
The winning goal came after a lofted cross from stand-in captain Eom Ji-sung, with Bae finishing the move to send South Korea into another Asian Games final.
China had opportunities to regain the lead, but South Korea's late pressure ultimately proved decisive.
A fourth consecutive final
The victory means South Korea has now reached the men's football final at four consecutive Asian Games.
That level of consistency has made the country one of the dominant forces in the competition's recent history.
South Korea will now attempt to win a fourth consecutive gold medal, which would extend an unprecedented run at the Asian Games.
The achievement would also carry an additional significance for the players because South Korean athletes who win Asian Games gold can receive an exemption from mandatory military service.
Japan sets up the final
Japan secured its place in the final after eliminating Uzbekistan in a dramatic penalty shootout.
The match finished 1-1 after extra time before Japan prevailed 9-8 on penalties.
That result sets up a final between two of Asia's most established football nations.
Japan has finished as runner-up at the previous two editions, meaning Saturday's final offers the team another opportunity to claim the gold medal.
Why the final matters
The South Korea-Japan final will be more than a battle for a medal.
Both countries have strong football traditions and regularly produce players who move into major European leagues. Their senior national teams are also among the most competitive sides in Asian football.
The Asian Games tournament, however, uses age-related squad rules that make it different from senior international football. That gives younger players an important opportunity to gain experience in high-pressure matches.
For South Korea, the immediate objective is clear: recover quickly from the semi-final and prepare for a Japanese team that has already survived its own dramatic knockout encounter.
China's progress continues
Although China will not play for the gold medal, reaching the semi-finals represents its strongest Asian Games men's football performance in 28 years.
The result provides a positive signal for a program that has been attempting to develop a stronger pipeline of young players and improve its competitiveness at international level.
The defeat against South Korea will nevertheless leave China with the opportunity to compete for the bronze medal and finish the tournament with a medal.
Saturday's final awaits
South Korea and Japan will meet on Saturday at Toyota Stadium with the Asian Games gold medal at stake.
South Korea enters the final after another comeback victory, while Japan arrives after surviving the longest possible route through its semi-final against Uzbekistan.
The final will bring together the two teams that have emerged from a demanding knockout stage and will provide another major test for a generation of Asian footballers.
For South Korea, victory would complete an unprecedented fourth consecutive Asian Games gold-medal run. For Japan, it would end two successive silver-medal finishes.
Everything is now set for one of the most anticipated football matches of the Asian Games.
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