Korean soccer is also keen to prepare for the Middle East expedition and Asian Cup due to the Saudi attack.

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Bae Jin-nam = Due to the instability of the Middle East situation surrounding Saudi Arabia, Korean soccer is also paying close attention as the national team prepares for an away friendly match in November and the Asian Cup in January next year.

An official from the Korea Football Association said on the 12th, "We are in close communication with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and are closely monitoring the situation."

In Saudi Arabia, on the 10th, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the capital, was attacked by a missile by Yemen's pro-Iran rebels Houthis, killing 13 civilians and injuring more than 300.

Another day, on the 11th, an unidentified projectile struck the airport terminal again, killing one person and injuring 11 others.

Saudi Arabia's national security crisis is reaching its peak, with powerful chain explosions heard not only at the airport but also in the center of downtown Riyadh.

As of 10 p.m. on the 11th, our Ministry of Foreign Affairs raised the travel advisory for all of Saudi Arabia to level 3, ‘recommendation to leave the country.’

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommended, “Korean citizens staying in Saudi Arabia should leave the country unless it is for essential business, and those planning to travel should cancel or postpone their trip.”

The 2027 AFC Asian Cup is scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia from January 7 to February 5 next year. Riyadh is also one of the three host cities.

Our country also participates in this competition.

Our national team, currently under interim coach Robert Moreno (Spain), has been promoting an away evaluation match in the Middle East during the FIFA A-match period (9th to 17th) in November as part of the preparation process for the Asian Cup.

The plan is to play against Saudi Arabia in Saudi Arabia, the host country of the Asian Cup, and also play a game against another Middle Eastern country in a neighboring country.

On the 7th, Saudi sports daily Aliyardiya also reported that the Saudi national team is scheduled to play friendly matches against Uzbekistan and Korea in November.

However, due to recent instability in the local situation, concerns are growing about the November expedition to the Middle East.

However, it is difficult to find a new opponent and venue for the international match, which is just a month away, so it is difficult.

In the worst case, the possibility of changing the Asian Cup venue is being carefully discussed.

Last April, after the United States and Israel invaded Iran, British newspapers such as the Guardian reported that Australia was emerging as an alternative host country as it became uncertain whether the Asian Cup could be held in Saudi Arabia due to the conflict in the Middle East.

An official from the Football Association said, “We have no choice but to wait for the AFC decision on the Asian Cup,” and added, “We are discussing various possibilities regarding the national team’s trip in November.”