Men's football team to take on Brazil, Chile and Paraguay in friendlies

Paik Seung-ho dribbles past Virgiliu Postolachi of Moldova during a friendly at Mardan Sports Complex in Antalya, Turkey on Jan. 21. [NEWS1]

Korea will face Brazil, Chile and Paraguay in men's football friendly matches at home in June in preparation for the upcoming World Cup.

The Korea Football Association (KFA) announced Monday that Korea will host friendlies against Brazil on June 2, Chile on June 6 and Paraguay on June 10.

Korea will play another friendly on June 14, however, the opponent for that fourth match has yet to be determined.

The Brazil friendly is scheduled to be played at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Western Seoul, while the locations for the other matches have not been decided.

World ranked No.30 Chile and No. 50 Paraguay both missed out on qualifying for the World Cup. However, playing against No. 1 Brazil will give the Taeguk Warriors a chance to tune up ahead of the tournament which is set for November in Qatar.

Brazil is the most successful team in the history of the World Cup, winning the title five times, second place twice, third place twice and fourth place twice.

Brazil is one of only four countries to win a World Cup trophy away from its continent, winning Sweden 1958, Mexico 1970, United States 1994 and Korea-Japan 2002. Brazil is also the only national team to have played in all World Cup tournaments to date.

In March, Korea was placed in Group H in the draw for the 2022 Qatar World Cup, leaving the Taeguk Warriors with some serious competition in the form of Portugal, Uruguay and Ghana.

The 2022 Qatar World Cup will kick off on Nov. 21 in Doha.

Korea's first game against Uruguay is on Nov. 24. Korea will then face Ghana on Nov. 28, before once again rounding out the group stage with a game against Portugal on Dec. 2.

BY YUN SO-HYANG [yun.sohyang@joongang.co.kr]