Schedule for Korea’s games against Iran, Australia set

Venues and schedules for Korean men’s football friendly matches against Australia and Iran were set Friday.

The Korea Football Association (KFA) said Korea, coached by Paulo Bento, will host Australia at Busan Asian Main Stadium in Busan at 8 p.m. on June 7. And four days later, also at 8 p.m., Korea will bring Iran to Seoul World Cup Stadium in the nation’s capital.

Plans to host these two Asian Football Confederation (AFC) rivals in June were first announced April 19. Australia’s visit will complete the home-and-away series between the two teams, with Korea having faced the Socceroos in Brisbane last November. Korea last faced Iran in August 2017 during the final World Cup qualifying stage.

Iran are the top AFC team in the FIFA rankings at No. 21, 16 spots ahead of Korea and 20 spots above Australia.

Korea has faced Iran 30 times, with an all-time record of nine wins, eight draws and 13 losses. Korea’s last win over Iran came in January 2011 in the quarterfinals of the AFC Asian Cup. In ensuing meetings, Iran enjoyed four consecutive 1-0 victories over Korea before they played to a scoreless draw during the FIFA World Cup qualifiers in August 2017.

Iran still has a head coaching vacancy after their longtime boss Carlos Queiroz left for Colombia.

In 27 meetings against Australia, Korea have seven wins, 11 draws and nine losses. They have just one win in their past six matches against Australia, with three draws and two losses.

The KFA said Australia and Iran make for the perfect sparring partners ahead of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers that begin in the second half of this year.

Korea has six wins and one loss in 2019, with its lone defeat coming in the AFC Asian Cup quarterfinals to Qatar in January.

Yonhap