FIFA U-17 World Cup
Since qualifying for the tournament by reaching the semi-finals of the AFC U17 Asian Cup™ Saudi Arabia 2025, meticulous preparations have been made by head coach Back Ki-tae and his coaching staff as the East Asian side target a successful tournament.
Factfile
Previous appearances: 7
Best finish: Quarter-finals (3 times)
2023 record: Group Stage
How they got there: AFC U17 Asian Cup 2025 semi-finalists
Head coach: Back Ki-tae
Fun fact: This is the first time that Korea Republic have qualified for three successive Finals
Group F Fixtures: v Mexico (Nov 4), v Switzerland (Nov 7), v Ivory Coast (Nov 10)
Previous appearances: 7
Best finish: Quarter-finals (3 times)
2023 record: Group Stage
How they got there: AFC U17 Asian Cup 2025 semi-finalists
Head coach: Back Ki-tae
Fun fact: This is the first time that Korea Republic have qualified for three successive Finals
Group F Fixtures: v Mexico (Nov 4), v Switzerland (Nov 7), v Ivory Coast (Nov 10)
The players have undergone three training camps since losing in the semi-finals of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup in April.
Back was also able to scrutinise his squad during a playing tour in Croatia in September that saw them play against Poland, Belgium and Italy.
The core of the team remains the same with the likes of Koo Hyeon-bin, Kim Eun-seong and Kim Ye-geon expected to lead the team in their quest to break into the semi-finals and beyond for the first time.
Back was also able to scrutinise his squad during a playing tour in Croatia in September that saw them play against Poland, Belgium and Italy.
The core of the team remains the same with the likes of Koo Hyeon-bin, Kim Eun-seong and Kim Ye-geon expected to lead the team in their quest to break into the semi-finals and beyond for the first time.
Korea Republic will not have the opportunity to feel their way into the tournament as they begin their campaign against a Mexico side who breezed through their qualifiers.
The second game against Switzerland could provide Korea Republic with a great chance to grab three points with the European side only qualifying as one of the four best second-placed finishers.
The toughest test for Back and his charges is likely to come in the form of Ivory Coast - who are back in the Finals for the first time since 2013 - with the African side having finished third in the 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.
The second game against Switzerland could provide Korea Republic with a great chance to grab three points with the European side only qualifying as one of the four best second-placed finishers.
The toughest test for Back and his charges is likely to come in the form of Ivory Coast - who are back in the Finals for the first time since 2013 - with the African side having finished third in the 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.
