South Korea and Japan will meet for the men’s football gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games after both teams survived dramatic semifinal matches on Wednesday, setting up a familiar rivalry for the third consecutive edition of the tournament.
South Korea reached the final with a 2-1 comeback victory over China at Nagai Stadium in Osaka. China took the lead through Wang Yudong in the 22nd minute, but Lee Young-jun equalized with a header before Bae Jun-ho scored the winning goal in the 82nd minute.
The result moved South Korea into its fourth straight Asian Games men’s football final. The team is seeking an unprecedented fourth consecutive gold medal after winning the previous three editions.
Japan booked its place in the final after a tense 9-8 penalty shootout victory over Uzbekistan. The semifinal ended 1-1 after extra time, forcing both teams into a shootout that went all the way to the 10th kicker.
The final will mark the third consecutive Asian Games gold-medal meeting between the two East Asian rivals. South Korea defeated Japan 2-1 in each of the previous two finals, making the latest encounter another chapter in a long-running regional football rivalry.
Japan entered the knockout stage after scoring 12 goals without conceding during the group phase and then defeated North Korea 1-0 in the quarterfinals. Its semifinal against Uzbekistan was considerably more demanding, with the team ultimately advancing on penalties.
For South Korea, the final also carries significance beyond the medal. A gold-medal victory would give eligible South Korean players an exemption from mandatory military service under the country’s rules for major international sporting achievements.
South Korea will have to manage its squad carefully after midfielder Yang Hyun-jun and captain Lee Gi-hyuk missed the semifinal through injuries. Coach Lee Min-sung said he was uncertain whether either player would be available for the final and emphasized protecting players who are not fully fit.
The gold-medal match is scheduled for Saturday at Toyota Stadium in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. local time.
With South Korea pursuing a fourth straight title and Japan attempting to claim the gold after finishing runner-up at the last two Asian Games, the final brings together two teams with recent history at stake and another chance to define the latest chapter of their Asian football rivalry.
