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Moreno’s first Korea squad names 30 players: the four-match test matters more than new faces

2026-09-14 · about 5 min read

The first Korea men’s football squad under Roberto Moreno was announced on September 14. If his arrival and introductory comments signaled a new start, this 30-player list is the first practical clue to which players he wants to test in matches. The key is not the novelty of the names itself, but how roles and tactics are organized across the September and October A-match run.

Key summary

  • Moreno selected a first A-match squad of 30 players.
  • Major reports focused on new faces including Jung Seung-won, Kim Min-su and Kim Geon-hee, along with a broader K League presence.
  • Established core players such as Son Heung-min and Kim Min-jae were also reported to be included.
  • This squad is closer to a starting point for testing depth and tactical fit than a final answer.

Background and context

Whenever a national team changes coaches, attention quickly moves to famous names and omitted players. But a first squad is also a way to test preferred shapes, pressing intensity, use of the flanks and defensive-line management in real games. The heavier K League presence can be read as a signal that current domestic form will be compared directly.

Confirmed facts

  • The first squad announced on September 14 was reported as a 30-player group.
  • Jung Seung-won, Kim Min-su and Kim Geon-hee were among the newly highlighted players in major coverage.
  • Yonhap and Yonhap News TV both noted the expanded selection of K League players.
  • The September and October A-matches are an early stage for checking player combinations and the game model under the new coach.

Issues to watch

IssueWhy it mattersWhat to check
New facesIt signals wider competition for national-team places.Whether they actually play and in which roles
More K League playersCurrent match sharpness and domestic form can be reflected.Combinations with overseas players and pressing speed
First coaching testThe match plan will show more than the list itself.Formation, substitution timing and defensive line

What to watch next

  • Check how many minutes the newly selected players receive in the upcoming matches.
  • Watch whether dependence on the established core decreases or whether their roles are simply reshaped.
  • It will matter how build-up and pressing intensity change against different opponents.
  • Rather than treating the first list as a World Cup blueprint, compare who remains in the next call-up.

Search keywords

  • Moreno first Korea squad
  • Korea football 30-player squad
  • Jung Seung-won Kim Min-su Kim Geon-hee
  • September A-match Korea squad
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Clavix note: A first squad reveals a coach’s preferences, but it is not an answer sheet. Minutes played, positions used and whether players remain in the next call-up will tell more than name value alone.
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