jasdooit

The South Korean national soccer team, led by Hong Myung-bo, experienced a shocking 0-5 loss to Brazil on the 10th of last month, which could lead to a drop in their FIFA ranking. South Korea is currently ranked 23rd, but if their position worsens before the December CONCACAF World Cup group draw, they might face difficulties in securing the favorable “Port 2” spot in the main competition. Additionally, their ranking might be affected based on the result of their friendly game against Paraguay (ranked 37th) at Seoul World Cup Stadium at 8 p.m. on the 14th.

As per “Football Ranking,” which provides up-to-date FIFA standings, South Korea lost 3.44 points following their loss to Brazil, bringing their total to 1,589.75 points. In the meantime, Ecuador, who were ranked 24th, just below South Korea, gained 0.78 points after drawing 1-1 with the United States in an away match on the same day. Australia, positioned 25th, earned 4.76 points by beating Canada 1-0. South Korea is only 0.93 points behind Ecuador and 1.5 points behind Australia.

The FIFA ranking has become more important than ever. The CONCACAF World Cup main draw will take place in Washington, D.C. on December 5th, with 48 countries split into Pots 1-4, each containing four teams. The three co-hosts—the United States (16th), Mexico (14th), and Canada (26th)—will be automatically placed in Pot 1, along with the top nine FIFA-ranked teams to make up Pot 1. The next 12 highest-ranked nations will occupy Pot 2. The higher the pot, the better the chance of avoiding strong teams during the group stage.

Although Canada, ranked 26th, is not eligible for Port 2 based on their position, they are automatically assigned to Port 1 as co-hosts, which means South Korea’s current 23rd place serves as the threshold for Port 2. In this scenario, Ecuador and Australia are improving, creating pressure on Hong Myung-bo’s team. The outcomes of South Korea’s game against Paraguay on the 14th, along with Ecuador’s match against Mexico and Australia’s encounter with the United States the next day, will have a major effect on future rankings. However, the final port assignments will be decided according to the November FIFA rankings, which will include the results from two A-matches scheduled for next month.

Paraguay, a tough rival that South Korea needs to overcome in order to maintain their position, possesses a powerful squad. During the South American qualifiers for the CONCACAF World Cup, they managed to beat top teams such as Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, one each, thereby qualifying for the main tournament for the first time in 16 years. They ended up in 6th place, accumulating 28 points along with Colombia, Uruguay, and Brazil, who took positions 3rd through 5th, in an intense competition. On the 10th of last month, they tied 2-2 against Japan (ranked 19th) in a friendly game. Historically, South Korea has a slight advantage over Paraguay, with 2 victories, 4 draws, and 1 loss. The focus is on whether head coach Hong Myung-bo will modify the “three-back” system that resulted in a 5-0 home loss after 24 years or try a new approach to make a comeback.