Son Heung-min and Neymar meet again in Seoul this October
Son Heung-min and Neymar are expected to face off once again in Seoul this October.
On the 11th (local time), Brazilian media outlet Globo reported, “The Brazilian national football team, ahead of the 2026 North and Central American World Cup, is scheduled to play friendly matches against Korea and Japan in October.”
According to Globo, the Brazilian Football Confederation has reached an agreement with the Korea Football Association and the Japan Football Association, and only the final procedures remain.
It is reported that the specific schedule includes a match against Korea in Seoul on October 10 and another against Japan in Tokyo on October 14.
The visit of global stars to Korea raises expectations among football fans
The Brazilian national team recently confirmed their qualification for the 2026 North and Central American World Cup, but they encountered some difficulties during the qualification process.
In response, they are seeking change by appointing Carlo Ancelotti as the new head coach last May. Nevertheless, they are still regarded as a strong team with world-class stars like Neymar (Santos), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid), and Raphinha (FC Barcelona).
This friendly match is particularly interesting as it features the face-off between Son Heung-min and Neymar, both born in 1992.
Since being called up to the national team, Son Heung-min has faced Brazil four times and recorded four losses. Notably, in their first encounter in June 2022, he lost 0-3 after conceding two goals to Neymar, and in the Round of 16 of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, he experienced disappointment with a 1-4 defeat, which included a goal from Neymar.
In their historical matchups, Korea has played Brazil eight times, achieving one win and seven losses.
The sole victory came in March 1999 when Kim Do-hoon scored the decisive goal for a 1-0 win at the Jamsil Olympic Main Stadium.
Meanwhile, the Korean national football team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, is set to head to the U.S. for their September fixtures. They are slated to face the U.S. in New Jersey on September 7 and Mexico in Nashville on September 10, followed by a confirmed home friendly against Paraguay on October 14. The final confirmation for the friendly match against Brazil on October 10 is also pending.
Image sources: (left) Neymar, (right) Son Heung-min / News1, Neymar / Getty Images Korea
