Thu Mar 27 10:37:45 UTC 2025: ## Poor Pitches Threaten South Korea’s World Cup Hopes, Prompts National Inspection

**Seoul, South Korea** – South Korea’s World Cup qualifying campaign has been hampered by substandard playing surfaces, prompting a nationwide investigation into the condition of elite football pitches. National team captain Son Heung-min, along with other players, including FC Seoul’s Jesse Lingard, have voiced concerns about the poor state of home grounds.

Two recent World Cup qualifiers were relocated from Seoul due to the poor condition of the capital’s stadium turf. However, Son criticized the replacement venues as well, stating that the national team is not benefitting from home-field advantage due to consistently poor playing conditions. He expressed his frustration following a disappointing 1-1 draw against Jordan on Tuesday in Suwon.

“When we’re at home, we’re supposed to enjoy the best playing conditions possible, but things have not improved at all,” Son said.

In response, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced a comprehensive inspection of all 27 K League stadiums beginning in April. The inspection will assess pitch maintenance practices and compare them to those of other nations, particularly Japan.

“The condition of a stadium’s pitch directly affects not only player performance but also injury prevention and spectator satisfaction,” a ministry official stated. “We aim to identify practical solutions and strengthen cooperation to establish a sustainable management system.”

Despite currently leading Group B with 16 points, South Korea’s recent home draws against Jordan and Oman have jeopardized their automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup in North America. Their remaining matches against Iraq and Kuwait will be crucial in determining their fate. The team’s failure to secure qualification in these past home games leaves them vulnerable as rivals, such as Jordan, close the gap. Lingard’s recent experience of tripping on an uneven pitch further highlights the issue’s severity.

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