Korea to face Uruguay at Seoul World Cup Stadium on March 28

Son Heung-min, left, shakes hands with Darwin Nunez after a Group H match between Korea and Uruguay at the 2022 Qatar World Cup at Education City Stadium in Doha, Qatar on Nov. 24, 2022. [YONHAP]

The Korean national football team's second opponent of the year will be Uruguay, the Korea Football Association (KFA) confirmed Monday.

The KFA announced that Korea will face Uruguay on home soil on March 28, four days after the Taeguk Warriors play their first international game of the year against Colombia.

The exact kick-off time has not been fixed, but the match will take place at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Mapo District, western Seoul. Korea's first ever win against Uruguay — 2-1 in 2018 — was on the same pitch.

The match against Uruguay is an interesting fixture for both sides because it is their first encounter in four months since their last game at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, which ended 0-0.

It will also be the first time the two sides meet since Korea beat Portugal 2-1 to earn a spot in the round of 16 at the World Cup, knocking Uruguay out of the competition.

Since the friendly match is happening during the FIFA international break, Korean players based overseas, including Son Heung-min and Kim Min-jae, will be available to play.

Uruguay's squad will most likely include such key players as Federico Valverde of Real Madrid and Darwin Nunez of Liverpool alongside veterans like Luis Suarez and Edison Cavani, who have yet to retire from international football despite being in their mid-30s.

The fixture will also serve as a chance for Korea’s yet-to-be named manager to prove his potential.

The new manager will most likely be named before Korea’s first international match against Colombia, but the KFA has not given any indication who is in the running.

Bosnian manager Vahid Halilhodzic, who beat Korea 4-2 with Algeria at the 2014 Brazil World Cup, is reportedly on the KFA’s radar. Bosnian media Radio Sarajevo reported in January that Halilhodzic received a phone call from Korea and was offered a manager position.

Another candidate reportedly on the KFA’s radar is former Spanish national team head coach Roberto Moreno, who led Spain for about a year in 2019. Spanish media reported last Friday that Moreno has been gaining a lot of attention from Korea, although the KFA has not confirmed that is true.

Meanwhile, Uruguay’s manager is still Diego Alonso, who failed to advance to the round of 16 in the World Cup for the first time in 12 years.

The South American side will head to Korea after playing their first international match against Japan on March 24. Korea has recorded one win, two draws, and six losses against Uruguay.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]