Korea to join England, Italy and Belgium at 2023 Arnold Clark Cup

Football

Published: 09 Nov. 2022, 16:07

Korea to join England, Italy and Belgium at 2023 Arnold Clark Cup

From left: Italy, England, Belgium and Korea will compete at the 2023 Arnold Clark Cup [KFA]

The Taeguk Ladies will fly to England next February for the 2023 edition of the Arnold Clark Cup, an invitational women’s tournament hosted by England’s Football Association.

Korea joins European champions England, Italy and Belgium at the four-team tournament that will serve as a warm-up for the 2023 Australia-New Zealand World Cup.

All four teams have been on strong form recently. England won the Euros earlier this year, with Belgium reaching the quarterfinals. Korea finished second at the Asian Cup earlier in the year, and, while Italy have had a quiet year, the Blues did make it to the final eight at the 2019 World Cup.

Based on current FIFA rankings, England is the team to beat at No. 4 in the world, followed by Italy at No. 14. Korea ranks at No. 17, slightly ahead of Belgium at No. 20.

The 2023 tournament marks the second edition of the Arnold Clark Cup, named after sponsor car retailer Arnold Clark. The debut tournament this year featured England, Spain, Canada and Germany, with England beating out Spain to the title on goal difference.

Korea's Ji So-yun fights for the ball against New Zealand's Gabi Rennie during a women's friendly match at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, Gyeonggi, on Nov. 27, 2021. [AP/YONHAP]

Korea will play their opening game against host England on Feb. 16, before facing Italy on Feb. 19 and Belgium on Feb. 22.

All games on Feb. 16 will be played at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, England, and games on Feb. 22 will be played at Ashton Gate in Bristol, England. The venue for Feb. 19 is still to be determined.

"It will be a very difficult competition for our players,” head coach Colin Bell was quoted as saying in a press release from the Korea Football Association. “Our weaknesses will be exposed and attacked, and we need to develop our ability to overcome them. As we deal with European teams, it will be good practice for when we meet Germany at the World Cup."

Korea has been drawn in Group H at the 2023 World Cup alongside world No. 3 Germany, No. 76 Morocco and No. 27 Colombia. While Korea is the second-highest ranked country in Group H, Germany is an opponent that will be difficult to match.

No. 76 Morocco will make their first appearance at the Women's World Cup next year and is set to become the first Arab nation to compete in the tournament.

With Germany expected to advance and Morocco expected to struggle, Korea’s first group stage match against No. 27 Colombia on July 25 could essentially decide who will get to stay and who will be sent home.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]