The Korean Football Podcast

(3:48) South Africa's position in world football(7:39) Mazola's take on Hugo Broos(15:36) S. Africa's reaction to World Cup draw(22:14) Hugo Broos' impact on Bafana Bafana(29:07) South Africa's tactical framework(35:01) Mokoena, South Africa's key man(39:18) Bafana Bafana's defensive prowess(50:22) Who should Korea look out for?For the first time ever, South Korea and South Africa will face each other at the FIFA World Cup this summer in Monterrey, Mexico. We connected with Mazola J. Molefe, one of the best football reporters covering South Africa national team, famously nicknamed Bafana Bafana, and the South African Premiership. Mazola took some time out of his busy schedule to talk about the recent AFCON disappointment for South Africa, how Hugo Broos has saved the floundering team, and much more.Currently a reporter for public broadcast network SABC in South Africa, Mazola has covered football in Africa for nearly two decades. His assignments range from Bafana Bafana to domestic football in South Africa to the CAF Champions League. He spoke with our very own Steve Han and Junu Lee to talk about the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the US.Mazola J. Molefe⁠InstagramTik Tok⁠⁠X / Twitter⁠Mazola's YouTube ChannelBehind The Boot Podcast***Other Links⁠FairPoint YouTube⁠⁠FairPoint Instagram⁠⁠FairPoint Ultimate Directory⁠⁠Steve Han's Work⁠⁠Steve Han X / Twitter⁠⁠Junu Lee Bluesky⁠⁠Steve Han Instagram⁠⁠Junu Lee Instagram

(4:03) Expectations for Mexico(15:53) Mexicans abroad struggling?(19:16) What Mexico expects from Korea(21:52) How Korea and Mexico match up(28:16) What's up with Hirving Lozano?(31:46) Is Guadalajara's altitude a myth?(39:26) Sonny vs. MexicoTo learn about what Korea will face in Mexico at the FIFA World Cup 2026 this summer, there's no one better than Jon Arnold to give us the best insight on what to expect.Formerly Goal's North America correspondent, Jon has been a dear friend and is one of the region's most respected football writer, as he has now covered CONCACAF for more than a decade. Be sure to check out his newsletter Getting CONCACAFed.Steve Han and Junu Lee connected with Jon to talk about Mexico, the World Cup host and also Korea's Group A opponent this summer. From Edson Alvarez's struggles at Fenerbahce to Mexico's expectations against Korea to the "myth" behind playing at higher altitude in Guadalajara, where Korea will play two matches in Group A, we covered it all with Jon.Jon ArnoldGetting CONCACAFed NewsletterJonArnoldFC Tik TokX / TwitterBlueskyJonArnoldFC Instagram***Other LinksFairPoint YouTubeFairPoint InstagramFairPoint Ultimate DirectorySteve Han's WorkSteve Han X / TwitterJunu Lee BlueskySteve Han InstagramJunu Lee Instagram

Kevin welcomes on filmmaker Emanuel Han, creative director Josh Lee, and art director Ray An to discuss their ambitions in developing Korea, Away, a video series exploring the Korean diaspora through the lens of KNT support.They assess the global state of Korean culture beyond football, and consider how far it's come since 2002. The gyopo lads muse over the diasporic journey especially in tandem with supporting the Korean national team, and outline one of their clear goals with Korea Away: to document as many of those stories as they can next summer.Korea, Away have currently been fundraising to develop a video series exploring the Korean diaspora through the lens of Korean football fandom. They will be traveling to the World Cup to document their story, which will begin in Guadalajara, Mexico. This is a call to all Korean football supporters: the Korea, Away team wants to hear from you if you'd like to share your story. Contact info below: Korea Awaykorea.away2026@gmail.comIG: https://www.instagram.com/korea.away/https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/emanuelhahn/korea-away?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bioJosh Lee https://www.instagram.com/joshspice/Ray An Rosehttps://www.instagram.com/rrosefromconcrete/ Emanuel Hahnhttps://www.instagram.com/hahnbo/Meeja Richardshttps://www.instagram.com/nicetomeeja/ Kevin KimX / Twitter: https://x.com/tuh0nFairPointYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fairpointfootballInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fairpointfootball/

Kevin and Steve are back to review what's been a big year not only for Korean football but also the FairPoint channel.Yoon Do-young, the teen on loan at Excelsior, spoke with the crew recently, and the two dive into what the Brighton youngster shared in his interview.Following is a look into the current state of Korean football culture. Alluding to the Steve's chat with John Duerden in the prior episode, Kevin and Steve analyze a culture symptomatic of a cultural issue, rather than a generational one, in regards to Korean football, the national team, and the FA's evolution.The two wrap up by reviewing the national team and look into their chances of qualifying out of their group (they should).FairPointYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fairpointfootballInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fairpointfootball/Steve HanPortfolio: https://linktr.ee/realstevescoresX / Twitter: https://x.com/realstevescoresKevin Kim X / Twitter: https://x.com/tuh0n

FairPoint host Steve Han is joined by pioneering Asian football writer John Duerden, whose writing since the early 2000s has inspired generation of football fans across Asia. John has been telling stories of Asian and Korean football for three decades now.An author of four books, John's journalistic work can be found in The Guardian, BBC, ESPN, World Soccer, and AP just to name a few. Also, check out his Substack, How Football Explains Asia. We connected with John to talk about the perennially tumultuous state of Korean football.(3:32) John's relationship with Korea(7:45) Korea under Hong Myung-bo(11:16) Japan, the best team in Asia?(15:53) How has Korean football changed?(20:26) The KFA mess and Korean football's deeper issues(26:47) "The KFA is the product of Korean culture"(33:48) Does Korean football "deserve" success?(38:02) Hope for Korean football beyond the World CupLinks to John Duerden's workHow Football Explains Asia via Substack: https://howfootballexplainsasia.substack.com/The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/johnduerdenX / Twitter: https://x.com/JohnnyDuerdenFairPointYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fairpointfootballInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fairpointfootball/Steve HanPortfolio: https://linktr.ee/realstevescoresX / Twitter: https://x.com/realstevescores

The lads return to review a very successful international break where Korea left the states with a win and a draw against USA and Mexico.With a lot to review, Steve, Kevin, and Roy talk about the match and match experience of both exhibitions in Harrison and Charlotte. With a novel 3 at the back system displayed over two games, the crew digs into personal performances, the development of Sonny and Minjae's roles in this team - and key takeaways from these two performances.Fairpoint Footballyt: https://www.youtube.com/@fairpointfootball ig: @fairpointfootballx: @realstevescores,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ STEVE HAN 한만성x: @tuh0n, KEVIN KIM 김준ig: @westernmachines, ROY GHIM

Kevin and Steve return to mark a landmark transfer for the most iconic Korean footballer in recent history. The MLS comes with its own stigma, but the two delve into the intricacies that make this transfer a noticeably football oriented move, despite all the buzz that has come with it.Fairpoint Footballyt: https://www.youtube.com/@fairpointfootball ig: @fairpointfootballx: @realstevescores,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ STEVE HAN 한만성x: @tuh0n, KEVIN KIM 김준

FairPoint's Steve Han and Joon Lee met with Maya Yoshida in February 2025 to talk about his wealth of experience as former Japan national team captain.Yoshida opened up about his ambition to improve player welfare in Japan, what motivated him to play in Europe for more than a decade as one of Japan's first central defenders abroad, and how Japan's rivalry with Korea has motivated him.

Steve Han holds it down for the Fairpoint crew alongside special guest Ryo Nakagawara, as they review the 2025 East Asian Cup - a four team tournament consisting of Korea, Japan, China, and Hong Kong.Fairpoint Footballyt: https://www.youtube.com/@fairpointfootball ig: @fairpointfootballx: @realstevescores,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ STEVE HAN 한만성x: @r_by_ryo, RYO NAKAGAWARAIf you're looking for more J-League / Japanese football content, look no further than RYO's substack: https://www.shogunsoccer.com/

Joel Kim is in the mix with Steve, Roy, and Kevin as they review Korea's final AFC Qualifying performances v. Iraq and Kuwait, which secures Korea's place in the North American World Cup next summer.The crew assesses the current state of the national team, especially considering the fresh faces involved in Korea's most recent victories, and ponder some general questions. Can Kim Jin-gyu fill in for Park Yong-woo? How differently is Lee Jae-sung utilized by Hong Myung-bo as opposed to Paulo Bento and Klinsmann?Fairpoint Footballyt: https://www.youtube.com/@fairpointfootball ig: @fairpointfootballx: @realstevescores,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ STEVE HAN 한만성x: @tuh0n, KEVIN KIM 김준x: @KNTFootball, JOEL KIMig: @westernmachines, ROY GHIM

Steve, Roy, and Kevin round up their conversation on expectations of the upcoming Asian World Cup qualifiers against Iraq and Kuwait.Fairpoint Footballyt: https://www.youtube.com/@fairpointfootball ig: @fairpointfootballx: @realstevescores,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ STEVE HAN 한만성x: @tuh0n, KEVIN KIM 김준ig: @westernmachines, ROY GHIM

Episode 3 of FairPoint English.Steve, Kevin, and long-time Korean football diehard, Roy Ghim of the Taegeuk Tavern, get together to discuss the end of the season for some of our most successful Korean players abroad - including Son Heung-min and his historic Europa League triumph with Tottenham.Fairpoint Footballyt: https://www.youtube.com/@fairpointfootball ig: @fairpointfootballx: @realstevescores,⁠⁠⁠ STEVE HAN 한만성x: @tuh0n, KEVIN KIM 김준ig: @westernmachines, ROY GHIM

Episode 2 of FairPoint English.Korea rounds up this international break with two lackluster draws against Oman & Jordan. Steve & Kevin diagnose the issues that plague this haphazard team.Includes a guest appearance from Scott McIntyre, reporting for FIFA and The Asian Game.The Asian Gamehttps://open.spotify.com/show/3Uu7bDa2nIrpLVIeHLBR2E?si=95bc962b1d7f4727x: @TheAsianGameFairpoint Footballyt: https://www.youtube.com/@fairpointfootball ig: @fairpointfootballx: @realstevescores,⁠ STEVE HAN 한만성x: @tuh0n, KEVIN KIM 김준

Episode 1 of FairPoint English.

Our full-length interview with Jurgen Klinsmann reviewing his time in Korea as the KFA's head football coach. Catch the interview on youtube!HOSTS진행:STEVE HAN한만성, https://x.com/realstevescoresKEVIN KIM김준, https://x.com/tuh0nRYAN WI위정호PRODUCER프로듀서:KEVIN KIM김준,   instagram.com/udonpapi  A/V SPECIALIST오디오/비주얼 담당:ALAN CHUNG, instagram.com/@alanychung  SUBTITLES자막: STEVE HAN한만성, https://bsky.app/profile/realstevesco...CAPTION캡션: BOWON SEO서보원, https://x.com/realjazzymanTHUMBNAIL썸네일: BOWON SEO서보원,  instagram.com/inkyflow_on