Son of South Korea Slams Subpar Pitches Following Back-to-Back Home Draws in World Cup

Captain Son Heung-min has expressed his belief that subpar pitch conditions have played a significant role in South Korea’s inconsistent performance during their World Cup qualifying campaign. The Taeguk Warriors drew two home matches 1-1 in the March international window, against Oman in Goyang and Jordan in Suwon.

Despite these draws, South Korea remains at the top of Group B, holding a three-point advantage. However, victory in either match would have secured their place in the finals.

The games were relocated to regional venues to accommodate the inadequate playing surfaces at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, but Son noted that the pitches in Goyang and Suwon were far from ideal.

“There’s clearly a reason why we’ve had better results on the road,” the Tottenham Hotspur forward commented to Yonhap News Agency.

“When we play at home, we expect to have the best conditions possible, but things haven’t improved at all.

“I’m certain we can perform better, but if our home ground conditions hinder us, it raises questions about where our home advantage comes from.

“I recognise this might seem like an excuse, but every detail matters in football. It can be the difference between a single point and three points. I hope we can bring more attention to it.”

To secure their spot in the finals for an 11th consecutive World Cup, South Korea must avoid defeat against Iraq in Basra on June 5. They will then return home to face Kuwait in their final round-three qualifier on June 10.

In the wake of the draw against Jordan, Son emphasised the need for the team to learn from their experiences, while also encouraging younger players to remain confident.

“Although this result is disappointing, we’re still at the top of our group, which is a fact we need to recognise. We aim to maintain that position until the conclusion of the qualifying rounds,” he remarked.

“For our younger players, representing the country is a privilege, but it can also bring immense pressure.

“I encouraged them to keep striving, as we can finish in first place. What’s most crucial for these young players is to maintain their confidence.”