Comparing Japan and South Korea at the U-23 Asian Cup: Korean Media Admit an Uncomfortable Truth

At the 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup final held in Saudi Arabia, Japan’s U-23 national team delivered a commanding 4-0 victory over China, successfully defending their title for the first time in tournament history. The result not only highlighted Japan’s dominance at the youth level in Asia, but also triggered deep reflection in South Korean media.

Korean outlet Sports Chosun published a post-match analysis bluntly titled: “An Uncomfortable Truth We Do Not Want to Admit, Yet Must: Asia’s Strongest Is Japan.” The article compared the newly crowned champions with South Korea’s U-23 side and argued that sweeping reforms are now unavoidable for Korean football.

In the highly anticipated final, Japan seized control early. Midfielder Okuni Tomohiro opened the scoring in the 12th minute, ending China’s clean-sheet run in the tournament. Eight minutes later, Ogura Yukinari doubled the lead with a stunning long-range strike.
After halftime, Sato Ryunosuke calmly converted a penalty in the 57th minute, before Ogura completed his brace in the 76th minute to seal a comprehensive 4-0 win.

With this victory, Japan claimed their third U-23 Asian Cup title—an all-time record—and became the first team to successfully defend the championship. They finished the tournament with 16 goals scored and only one conceded, having eliminated South Korea 1-0 in the semifinals before overpowering China in the final.

Sports Chosun noted that China, led by head coach Antonio Puche, had reached the final for the first time in history and kept five consecutive clean sheets prior to the final. However, those defensive achievements collapsed under Japan’s relentless pressure, underscoring the clear gap in overall quality.

In contrast, South Korea’s campaign ended in disappointment. They lost the third-place playoff to Vietnam on penalties and finished fourth. Although head coach Lee Min-seong described the team as “a work in progress,” the media questioned this optimism, warning that the squad could become a “lost generation” ahead of the upcoming Asian Games.

The article also cited overseas fan reactions, many of which stressed that Korea’s struggles go beyond a single age group. With the introduction of VAR and the widening technical gap, Korea’s once-prized physical style is no longer effective. Without a fundamental reassessment of youth development and football education, South Korean football may face a prolonged period of decline.