In the end, the concern became reality. Coach Lee Min-sung's team parted ways with key midfielder Kang Sang-yoon (22, Jeonbuk Hyundai) from the start of the 2026 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Asian Cup.
The Korea Football Association (KFA) said on the 9th (Korea time), "Kang Sang-yoon was released from the squad after a diagnosis showed damage to the left medial collateral ligament of his left knee. The timing and place of the release will be arranged after consultation with his club Jeonbuk," it said. The rest of the squad divided into a recovery group and a training group and completed training.
The U-23 national team led by coach Lee Min-sung drew 0-0 in the Group C opener against Iran on the 7th at Al Shabab Club Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In the 19th minute of the first half, Kim Tae-won (Portimonense) scored with a fluid turn followed by a shot, but the goal was painfully disallowed for offside.
Korea opened with a draw. A draw with the 'formidable' Iran is not necessarily bad, but it is a regrettable result because Iran is not that strong at age-group levels.
The bigger problem is that key players went down with injuries. In the 28th minute of the first half, the 'ace' Kang Sang-yoon was substituted, raising concerns. He stretched out his right leg to clear the ball, suddenly sat down, and was carried off on a stretcher. In the 35th minute of the second half, Kim Tae-won was also carried off on a stretcher and left the field.
Afterward, Kang Sang-yoon was seen wearing a brace on his left knee and moving on crutches. The diagnosis was damage to the medial ligament of the knee. Unable to continue in the tournament, his release from the squad was confirmed. Kang Sang-yoon ended the tournament after playing just 28 minutes.
Born in 2004, Kang Sang-yoon helped Jeonbuk win the K League 1 and the Korea Cup double last season while alternating between central and wide positions, and he is a midfielder who has even made his A-match debut. He is praised for his high work rate, smart football intelligence and versatility, and is expected to be the next Lee Jae-sung. After the season, he was also named to the K League 1 best 11 in the midfielder category.
Kang Sang-yoon was also recognized for his potential overseas. He was valued at up to 3.5 million euros (about 600 million won) under the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) criteria under FIFA, ranking first in market value in the K League.
As such, Kang Sang-yoon was a key resource difficult to replace in Lee Min-sung's squad. But with his departure from the lineup, coach Lee Min-sung's sighs deepened as he aims for a semifinal or better.
Another variable is the uncertainty over Kim Tae-won's availability for the second match. He was not released from the squad like Kang Sang-yoon, but the extent of his injury has not been clearly disclosed. Given Korea's big worries up front, such as failing to create many effective shots against Iran, Kim Tae-won's absence is expected to be felt keenly.
Korea now plays its second match against Lebanon at the same venue on the 10th. Then on the 13th they will play the final group match against Uzbekistan. Only the top two teams in the group advance to the quarterfinals, so a win is essential.
After the Iran match, coach Lee Min-sung said, "I want us to operate with our game plan and win the next match as well. From the second match, we will more accurately identify the opponent's strengths and weaknesses and definitely win," and added, "I believe we can get through the group stage and go to the knockout round."
[Photo] Provided by the Korea Football Association.
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