Korea Faces Japan in Asian Games Soccer Final, Eyeing Fourth Straight Gold

Korean soccer meets its fated rival Japan in the final as it closes in on a fourth consecutive Asian Games title. A win over Japan in the men's soccer final of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, set for 7:30 p.m. on the 3rd at Toyota Stadium in Japan's Aichi Prefecture, would give Korea gold medals in four straight Asian Games dating back to the 2014 Incheon Games.

In baseball, where Korea had just won a fifth straight title, the opponents were amateur league players who work during the day and play ball at night. Japan's amateur baseball is made up of elite players, unlike the situation in Korea. Still, the result sparked debate over whether it was right to grant military service exemptions to the Korean national team for a gold medal won against such opposition with a squad of top professionals.

What about soccer? On the surface, Japan's soccer squad also looks far from a full-strength team. Unlike most teams, which are built around under-23 players with three wild cards aged 24 or older, Japan assembled a squad made up entirely of under-21 players born in 2005 or later. The aim is the Los Angeles Olympics two years from now, when those prospects will be 23. Of the 23 players, 16 are with J-League clubs and three are university students. There are no wild cards.

Dig deeper, however, and Japan's strength is anything but modest. Japan lost 1-2 to Korea's under-23 team in a friendly in March this year, but that was before its Europe-based players joined. The four who have come in for this tournament are a formidable group.

Center back and captain Rion Ichihara joined AZ Alkmaar of the Dutch league in January. As the leader of the national team's back line, he handles game management, build-up play and covering wide areas. Left back Keita Kosugi moved from the Swedish league to Germany's Eintracht Frankfurt in January and recorded three assists in his official debut in August. Midfielder Nelson Ishiwatari of Belgium's Sint-Truiden is strong in physical duels, while Nigerian-Japanese forward Nwadike Uche Brian Seo of Denmark's Aalborg is a tough striker who relishes contact. He also scored the winner in the 1-0 quarterfinal victory over North Korea.

Elsewhere, No. 10 Hisatsugu Ishii of Shonan Bellmare scored in all three group-stage matches, earning him the nickname "the next Mitoma" from local media. Kaoru Mitoma of England's Brighton is the icon of Japanese soccer today.

Most of Japan's players were part of the squad that won the under-23 Asian Cup in January. Japan beat Korea 1-0 in the semifinals on the way to that title.

Lee Min-sung, head coach of the Korean national team, said at a news conference on the 2nd that he is wary of the opponent. "Japanese soccer used to be built mainly on short, intricate passing, but now they have added physical play," he said. On Japan fielding under-21 players unlike Korea, he said, "I think each country has its own policy." He added, "We built our squad around 23-year-olds because we also have to consider the military service exemption, so saying 'we are 21 and you are 23' doesn't make sense to me."