grapplegraphics.com Korea’s quest for a record-breaking finish at the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2023 kicks off today against the United States.토토사이트
The Korea U-17 Men’s National Team, led by Byun Sung-hwan, will open Group E play against the United States at the International Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia, at 9:00 p.m. on June 12.
They will then face France (Jakarta) on the 15th and Burkina Faso (Bandung) on the 18th.
The tournament will feature 24 nations, including Korea, divided into six groups of four teams.
The top two teams from each group and the four best performing teams from the third place group will advance to the round of 16 tournament to determine the winner.
South Korea will be making their seventh appearance at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, with their previous best results coming in the quarterfinals in 1987, 2009 and 2019.
In 1987, the tournament featured 16 nations and the quarterfinals were a straightforward group stage, while in 2007, the tournament moved to a 24-nation format, starting with the round of 16.
Byun’s goal is to reach the quarterfinals or higher, which would be the best result ever.
Key players include Kim Myung-jun, captain of the Pohang Steelers U-18 team in the K League 1, as well as Kang Min-woo (Ulsan U-18), Lim Hyun-seop (Suwon U-18), and Yoon Do-young (Daejeon U-18).
Of the final 21-man roster, only Han Seok-jin (Jeonbuk U-18) was born in 2007, while all other players were born in 2006.
Byun Sung-hwan, who qualified for the World Cup as the runner-up at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-17 Asian Cup in June, has since completed acclimatization training in Indonesia.
In October, the team drew with powerhouses Belgium (3-3) and England (1-1) in a four-nation friendly in Spain, giving them confidence for the tournament.
“We can’t predict the outcome, but we will definitely prepare to win the game,” Byun said before departing, adding, “I know our best result in the tournament is the quarterfinals, and we will challenge that record.”