Goyang doesn't want to get caught up in the 'zild controversy', and it's a sweat to maintain the best ground...Hong Myung-bo's largest variable in Oman

Goyang doesn't want to get caught up in the 'zild controversy', and it's a sweat to maintain the best ground...Hong Myung-bo's largest variable in Oman

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"I would have decided that it was the best compared to other stadiums and designated it as a venue for the game."

One of the early issues in the K-League season is the grass issue at the stadium. As for this year's event, players had to play in freezing conditions due to early opening due to FIFA Club World Cup and other reasons such as cold weather due to lack of grass growth.

Of course, it is less worrisome if there were investments in facilities such as skylights and heating wires, but the fact that it is difficult to solve various practical problems such as electricity prices even if the facilities are improved by spending a large amount of money on stadiums managed by local governments, not owned by clubs, is an indicator that Korea's soccer infrastructure still has a long way to go.

The national soccer team will play Oman in Group B 7 of the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 North-China World Cup at Goyang Stadium on the 20th and then play Jordan in Game 8 at Suwon World Cup Stadium on the 25th.

In the case of Suwon World Cup Stadium, the entire stadium was overturned in the second half of last year to preserve the new grass. Suwon Samsung, which had been using it as its home stadium, had to move to Yongin Mir Stadium for the match.

Suwon, which played its home opener against Asan, Chungcheongnam-do, on the 15th, also decided to play Seoul E-Land FC and FA on the 22nd, but the two clubs agreed on the 19th, in case of controversy over grass due to the proximity of the national team's game. Of course, fans are not paying attention to the fact that the FA Cup would have notified the club unilaterally because it was organized by the Korea Football Association.

The stress of stadium lawn managers who have professional clubs or often play in national teams is at its peak. The Professional Football Federation is trying to create an important environment for improving performance, such as establishing a lawn-related department, but it is also difficult because the weather is not followed or the administrator's perception of reality is backward.

The team started its first training session at the auxiliary stadium of Goyang Stadium on Wednesday. Simply put, one might suspect that it is the beginning of an auxiliary stadium, not a general stadium, but there are equal conditions for both teams that can be used only for official training on the eve of a match. If the two sides agree and approve it by the Asian Football Confederation, they can use it for one more day, but if they have to hide it from each other, that is not the case.

The ground flattening work was being carried out inside the stadium, with the national team training outside the auxiliary stadium. Even with the naked eye, there were still areas where the grass was not grown enough and faded. It is evaluated that if the timing was scored, it was properly managed.

Officials at Goyang City Management Corporation, which manages Goyang Sports Complex, worked diligently to ensure that the grass did not go bad. One official declined to be interviewed by the media but said, "We are really taking care of the grass to ensure that the game goes well. It is best to say this. I try not to get stressed out."

The variable is that the temperature has fallen from late at night on the 17th and snow has fallen until the 18th, making it more difficult to manage. Although the day of the game is said to warm up, there can be enough grass that does not thaw. If the ground is slippery or frozen and players are injured, it is a series of worries. If the players, including captain Son Heung-min, talk about grass, the burden becomes even greater. 스포츠토토

An official of the national team explained, "The grass at Goyang Stadium was carefully checked by the association staff and coach Kim Jin-kyu himself. It was definitely good at the time of rental, so we selected it along with Suwon World Cup Stadium."

It is Goyang Stadium, which could have been used for training if the grass at the Seoul World Cup Stadium was good. The last possible cold spell has made the remaining two days of training and match days more sensitive.