USMNT vs. Korea: Hong Myung-bo’s controversial appointment looms over key friendly

For all his hard work on the field, though, Hong has a rough reputation off it. This is his second time leading the Korean national team, and his first wasn't exactly a fairy tale: At the 2014 World Cup, he flopped, racking up zero wins in a group featuring Belgium, Russia and Algeria. The Koreans' performances were so poor that fans reacted angrily  upon the team's return to Seoul. Hong was promptly dismissed and forgotten.

When Hong was reappointed as coach 10 years later, in 2024, the question on the soccer community's lips was ... why? While we don't know for sure, it appears the Korean soccer federation thought the team needed a local-led reset after a series of disappointing foreign coaches.

Hong's initial results have been good, and his Korea side has qualified for the 2026 World Cup with room to spare, but it hasn't exactly lit the world on fire with its potential. For a heated fan base eager for a big change, these next four Korea fixtures — against the United States, Mexico, Brazil and Paraguay — are important for Hong. If his team plays well, he'll keep his post with Korea; if his team fares poorly, he may face the ignominy of dismissal before the 2026 World Cup.

Korea's growing global diaspora

Korea's global diaspora is huge, but it hasn't really affected its national soccer team... until now. Jens Castrop, the 22-year-old Korean-German midfielder from Dusseldorf, will make history against the USMNT by being Korea's first foreign-born player. Castrop represented Germany as a teen but filed a one-time switch to change his allegiance to Korea, and his example could pave the way for foreign-born Korean nationals all over the world.

Castrop is more than just a fun piece of trivia, though. He's a stellar, young midfielder with plenty of potential, and he plays alongside American internationals Gio Reyna and Joe Scally at Borussia Monchengladbach. He's the shining star of Korea's rising generation, and this USMNT friendly will be his long-overdue debut.

Major League Soccer connections

USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino wasn't the only person to count on MLS players for these friendlies. Korea coach Hong did, too. He's bringing two U.S.-based stars, LAFC's Son Heung-min and St. Louis City's Jeong Sang-bin, to face the MLS-heavy USMNT.

Son is Korea's captain and one of the most famous players in his nation's history. (The only person who can challenge him on that front is Hong.) But Jeong, a midfielder who spent two years with Minnesota United before moving to St. Louis this summer, tends to fly under the radar. He's a tricky, capable player and a stupendous late-game substitute, and he could give the USMNT plenty of problems in the dying minutes of their match.

The USMNT will face South Korea at 5 p.m. ET (TNT, HBO Max, Peacock) on Saturday at Sports Illustrated Stadium.