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#KLUpod | The Future of Sangmu & Asian Games 2026 Fallout

2026-10-07T21:58:29.911+09:00

The K League United Podcast turns it's attention to Korea's military side Gimcheon Sangmu this week and the question marks over its future, before then looking back at the Korea Republic's gold medal success in the men's football at the Asian Games and the controversy that has followed.

Matthew Binns and Paul Neat return once more for this Final Round of K League United Podcasts and, in a hark back to our first ever episode proper back in 2018, we are once again talking about army sides and the importance of Asian Cup success.

The tone has shifted somewhat since 2018 though, with post-final celebrations bringing the conversation of military exemption back to the fore.

Before that though, we look at the state of the military Sangmu team, currently in it's Gimcheon guise. We cast an eye over the impact this team has had in K League as Gwangju Sangmu and Sangju Sangmu, before then looking to a potential homeless future for the side as it heads down to K League 2 still without a host city.

All this and more on The K League United Podcast.

Where to Listen

Listen to the KLU Pod wherever you get your podcasts. Don't forget to leave us a review!

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🍕 Proudly sponsored by ⁠Record Pizza⁠, find your nearest location ⁠here⁠, and in association with ⚽ ⁠TNT FC⁠!

Where to Watch

Watch the latest episode on our YouTube Channel!

Daejeon Hana Citizen's now-traditional autumn revival could seal ACL again

2026-10-02T16:18:00.000+09:00

There's a collective belief among some sections of the Daejeon Hana Citizen fan base that once autumn arrives, the team comes good again. Once the traditional calendar reaches ipchu - the traditional 13th solar term in the East Asian lunisolar calendar- Daejeon Hana Citizen get serious again and finish the campaign strongly.

There's evidence to back that up. In the 2023 season, after a sticky patch from June 7th to September 1st, during which Daejeon managed just two wins in 12, autumn saw a return to form with three wins, five draws and just one loss from their last nine matches. The outcome was safety secured early and eighth place, well above the relegation playoffs.

In 2024, a season that saw Daejeon only secure survival in Round 37, Citizen went from September 1st until the end of the season - a run of 10 matches - with six wins, two draws and two losses. In truth, Daejeon did well throughout August as well, but a late-season turnaround saw Hwang Sun-sung steer Daejeon to safety.

Last season, after a spell of inconsistency in July and August, the September-to-season-end run yielded six wins from 10 with just two losses.

Daejeon, even under Hwang Sun-hong over the last two seasons, have it in them to put in a solid end to the campaign. The aim at the start of this one was to win the title; that ship has already sailed, but the new target is to qualify for the AFC Champions League again.

Kang Yoon-seong said as much in the post-match mixed zone following Daejeon's 1-0 win over Kyoto Sanga.

"Playing in the ACLE for the first time, I really got a taste of it. It made me want to be in it again next year. We can't qualify with our current league position, so we need to improve. The players are all clearly aware of this. I think this match will make the other players want to play in the ACLE again next year as well. Since we have to be better than other teams in the league and beat them to qualify, I think the players will mentally prepare themselves starting from the next match against Incheon and put on a good performance. I think this has served as an opportunity for us to gain a little more confidence."

Since the turn of September this year, Daejeon have two wins and two draws - including a 5-0 victory away to Bucheon, as well as the historic ACL win over Kyoto Sanga, suggesting that this autumn revival has already begun. August was productive, too, with four wins from six, giving them a more solid foundation to end the season well.

Daejeon's pre-split run-in is Jeonbuk and Gwangju at home in Rounds 31 and 32, then Gimcheon away in Round 33. Six, perhaps even seven, points would be a reasonable target given the current league standings of the latter two, plus the away form of the former - four wins from 15.

Farewell to the K League 1 split: wide open race to say goodbye

2026-10-01T16:09:00.000+09:00

The 2026 season is the last of the 12-team K League 1 and the Final A/Final B system. From 2027, the top flight expands to 14 clubs and moves to a 39-match, three-round-robin season. It is fitting, then, that the last-ever race for the top six is very wide open.

Aside from the runaway league leaders FC Seoul and the well and truly cut adrift basement side, no need to mention who, the 2026 K League 1 table is very tight. Just nine points separate Ulsan HD in second from FC Anyang in ninth and, perhaps more importantly, five points separate Gangwon FC in fifth from The Violets.

The 0-0 between Gangwon and Incheon United during Chuseok - a rescheduled Round 22 fixture - was almost the perfect result to maintain the chaos: neither side pulled away, and the teams below them remain within striking distance.

This sets up a dramatic and tightly contested race to seal top-six status. The real drama, certainly for the neutrals, used to be in Final B, with big teams getting sucked into the relegation battles - Jeonbuk in 2024, Ulsan last year, and FC Seoul on a number of occasions, most recently in 2023. Finishing in the top six was a good way to secure safety early, but with no automatic relegation this year due to the Sangmu team's relocation from Gimcheon, and how far off Gwangju are, there's no need to bust a gut to get into Final A purely for the sake of safety.

The incentive to avoid Final B is more about what's up for grabs in Final A - an extra AFC Champions League spot. K League clubs can potentially send five clubs to AFC Champions League competitions - three in AFC Champions League Elite and two in AFC Champions League Two, albeit with playoffs involved for a full quota.

Once this mega international break finally comes to an end, K League 1 has just three more matches before the split, and only league leaders FC Seoul have mathematically secured a place in the top six.

Even Ulsan in second could still slip into the bottom half if they're not careful. It means that there are eight teams fighting for five places. Gimcheon, Bucheon, and Gwangju are all mathematically out of contention.

Key Fixtures

Round 31

Daejeon Hana Citizen vs. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors - Key six-pointer

Round 31 could prove pivotal. Daejeon, the side currently sitting in sixth, have an easy run-in post Round 31 (Gwangju at home, Gimcheon away), so this home clash with Jeonbuk will be huge. Daejeon sit on 40 points and host fourth-placed Jeonbuk on 44 points. A home win would put Daejeon right back in contention for a top-four finish, while a Jeonbuk victory would strengthen their position and potentially open up a gap to the chasing pack. Both have plenty at stake.

Incheon United vs. Pohang Steelers - Key six-pointer

With Incheon on 39 and Pohang on 40, this is one of the most consequential fixtures of the round. A win for Incheon would see them leapfrog Pohang, while the Steelers have the chance to create some breathing room and strengthen their top-six prospects.

Round 32

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors vs. Jeju SK - Top-four battle

Jeju and Jeonbuk are both looking to consolidate their positions near the top of the table. Although both are in the top six at present, a defeat could make the final two rounds considerably more complicated, particularly for Jeonbuk.

Gangwon FC vs. Incheon United - Key six-pointer

Perhaps the standout fixture of the entire run-in. Gangwon and Incheon meet for the second time in quick succession. If Incheon win, they could move within a point of Gangwon; if the hosts prevail, they could establish a valuable cushion with just one game left before the split.

Pohang Steelers vs. FC Anyang - Key six-pointer

Anyang are right in the hunt, just two points behind Pohang heading into Round 31. This is a crucial opportunity for the Violets to make up ground directly, while Pohang have a chance to put some distance between themselves and one of their closest challengers.

Round 33

FC Seoul vs. Gangwon FC - Potential decider

The final round before the split could see Gangwon facing an already-qualified Seoul side. Depending on the preceding results, this could be decisive for Gangwon's top-six hopes, particularly if they are still vulnerable to the teams immediately below them.

Incheon United vs. Jeju SK - Potential decider

Jeju could be fighting to protect their top-four position, while Incheon may need a result to secure Final A. It's a particularly interesting final-day fixture because the two sides could have very different objectives, depending on how the preceding rounds unfold.

With direct meetings between several of the contenders still to come, the final three rounds offer little room for error. In a season that marks the end of the 12-team split, the last places in Final A could be decided as much by who takes points off their rivals as by who wins their own matches.

Where to Watch

Watch live on TV.KLeague.com, English commentary provided where indicated.

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