South Korea U23 loses Kim Ji-soo ahead of their match against Vietnam U23.
Kim Ji-soo has withdrawn from the South Korean U23 team for the 2025 Panda Cup due to a hamstring strain. Coach Lee Min-sung's team recently lost 0-4, 0-2 during their October training camp and will fly from Incheon to Chengdu on the 10th to play Uzbekistan on the 12th.
South Korea's U23 team suffered a major setback just before the 2025 Panda Cup: Kaiserslautern's center-back Kim Ji-soo was unable to join the squad due to a hamstring strain, forcing a substitution. This development came just days after the team announced its 24-player roster and before their scheduled departure to China.
Kim Ji-soo's withdrawal has had consequences for the South Korean U23 defense.
On November 7th, defender Kim Ji-soo announced his absence due to a hamstring strain. Previously, he was a notable name on the squad announced on November 4th, alongside Kim Yong-hak (Portimonense) and Kim Myung-jun (Genk in Belgium), and several other K-League players. The absence of this key central defender forced the coaching staff to make personnel adjustments for the 2025 Panda Cup.
Key timeframe for South Korea U23
| Mold | Content |
|---|---|
| 4/11 | The list of 24 players for the 2025 Panda Cup in China has been announced, notably including Kim Ji-soo (Kaiserslautern), Kim Yong-hak (Portimonense), and Kim Myung-jun (Genk). |
| 7/11 | Kim Ji-soo withdrew from the team due to a hamstring strain; the team had to make a substitution. |
| 10/11 | Meet at Incheon Airport, then fly directly to Chengdu. |
| Day 12 | The first match is against Uzbekistan; it will be played behind closed doors as the two teams are in the same group in the Asian Cup group stage next January. |
Professional context: pressure following the October training camp.
During their training camp in Saudi Arabia in October, the South Korean U23 team suffered two consecutive defeats against the host nation, Saudi Arabia's U23 team, with scores of 0-4 and 0-2. This result created considerable pressure on coach Lee Min-sung ahead of the 2025 Panda Cup.
| Competitor | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia U23 | 0-4 | October training trip |
| Saudi Arabia U23 | 0-2 | October training trip |
Opponents and the landscape of the Panda Cup 2025
The opening match against Uzbekistan took place behind closed doors as the two teams will meet in the Asian Cup group stage next January. Compared to South Korea's U23 team, both Uzbekistan's and China's U23 teams did not field their best players of the same age group; their squads included many players born in 2005, aiming to prepare for the 2028 Olympics.
Vietnam U23 team and the significance of the Panda Cup 2025
The Vietnam U23 team will field its best players, mostly the key players who won the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship and qualified for the 2026 Asian U23 Championship. With the upcoming schedule, the 2025 Panda Cup is seen as an important opportunity for the Vietnam U23 team to prepare for the 33rd SEA Games in December in Thailand.
Technical notes
- South Korea U23 head coach Lee Min-sung previously served as an assistant to Lee Jang-soo in China, thus becoming familiar with the football environment there.
- The U23 South Korea – Uzbekistan match on the 12th was played behind closed doors to minimize the risk of revealing tactics ahead of the Asian Cup group stage in January next year.