South Korea beat host Japan 1-0 in the Asian Games men’s football final on Oct. 3, earning a fourth consecutive title and military-service exemptions for its players. Eom Ji-sung scored on the hour at Toyota Stadium near Nagoya, where 30,000 fans watched. The win lifted spirits after South Korea’s poor 2026 World Cup campaign and a string of controversies involving the Korean Football Association.
The result and its national stakes
Eom scored with a left-foot shot against the run of play. His first chance went over the bar. His second settled the final.
Japan struck the post late and couldn’t equalize. The victory also carries consequences beyond the competition: nearly every able-bodied South Korean man must complete at least 18 months of military service, but the government grants exemptions for Asian Games gold medals and Olympic medals of any color. By winning the final, the South Korean players secured exemptions.
The 2026 team followed senior captain Son Heung-min and Atletico Madrid playmaker Lee Kang-in, cited as earlier recipients. South Korea’s squad included players with European experience, and Eom had also played at the World Cup.
The final offered relief after South Korea exited the 2026 World Cup at the group stage, following a shock loss to South Africa. North America hosted the tournament. Public anger over the campaign continued after coach Hong Myung-bo quit, alongside questions about his appointment.
Questions surrounding the football association
Police raided Korean FA headquarters in August as part of an investigation into Hong’s 2024 appointment. The association also apologized over allegations that it provided sexual entertainment for foreign referees. Those controversies had damaged South Korean football’s standing, and the final win didn’t erase them.
The police investigation and the association’s apology concern separate matters. Investigators focused on Hong’s appointment; the apology followed allegations involving foreign referees. The match didn’t resolve the questions surrounding the association.
Japan’s campaign ends short of gold
Japan, coached by Go Oiwa, fielded a mostly home-based Under-21 team. The Asian Games football competition uses under-23 squads with three over-age players. Japan created the better chances after forward Uche Nwadike was carried off midway through the first half with a knee injury, but couldn’t turn those opportunities into a goal.
Japan had sought its first Asian Games men’s football gold since 2010. Go Oiwa was to take over the senior national team after the Asian Cup in 2027. South Korea left Toyota Stadium with the title. Japan’s late effort hit the post.