Korea and Japan will meet in the men's soccer final at the Asian Games. Japan has fielded an under-21 national team, while Korea has assembled a squad that includes overseas-based players and wild-card selections as the two sides compete for the gold medal.
"A tough match for Japan"
Japanese outlet The Answer reported on the 1st that "the team waiting in the final is Korea" and that "it is expected to be a difficult match from Japan's perspective."
Japan beat Uzbekistan 9-8 on penalties in the semifinal on Sept. 30 after the two sides were level at 1-1 through extra time. Japan conceded early in the first half but Sena Ishibashi equalized with a header in the 88th minute to level the score.
With no winner after 120 minutes, the shootout ran to a 10th kicker. Japan secured its place in the final after the drawn-out contest.
Korea, meanwhile, beat China 2-1 the same day at Yanmar Stadium Nagai in Osaka. Korea fell behind in the 22nd minute before Lee Young-jun equalized, and Bae Jun-ho scored the winner in the second half to seal the trip to the final.
Another difference the Japanese outlet highlighted was squad composition. Japan built an under-21 team with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in mind. Korea strengthened its squad with overseas-based players including Eom Ji-sung of Swansea City, who played at the 2026 World Cup in North America, along with three wild-card selections.
"An important tournament for Korean players"
The Japanese outlet also noted a difference in how players from the two countries view the tournament.
The outlet described the Asian Games as "an important tournament for Korean players because a gold medal brings military service benefits," pointing to the boost Korea's squad draws from the exemption. Because the military service benefit depends on winning gold, the point is that Korean players will show stronger determination in the final.
Japanese internet users also commented on the differences in the two countries' goals and squad composition. Comments ran along the lines of "Korea is using U-23 players and wild cards to chase military service benefits while Japan is going with a U-21 squad with the Olympics in mind — the conditions are different from the start" and "facing a full-strength Korea three days after a 120-minute battle is too much to ask."
Korea has won three consecutive titles since the 2014 Incheon Games and has reached the final again at this tournament. This is the third time the two countries have met in an Asian Games final, and Korea beat Japan to take gold in the previous two.
Korea and Japan will meet for the gold medal at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 3 at Toyota Stadium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
