South Korea claims Asian Games men’s football title over Japan
- South Korea claimed its fourth men's football title at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on October 3, defeating Japan 1-0 in the final at Toyota Stadium thanks to...
- As South Korea's national anthem played over the stadium speakers, the designated flag raiser failed to lift the Taegeukgi, leaving the flagpole empty while the banners of Japan...
- An operations official quoted by NikkanSports stated, Current situation is under review.
South Korea claimed its fourth men’s football title at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on October 3, defeating Japan 1-0 in the final at Toyota Stadium thanks to a goal by Eom Ji-sung in the 15th minute of the second half.
Delayed Flag Hoisting Draws Jeers and Suspicion at Toyota Stadium
As South Korea’s national anthem played over the stadium speakers, the designated flag raiser failed to lift the Taegeukgi, leaving the flagpole empty while the banners of Japan and China rose on either side, according to NikkanSports. The flag finally ascended only after the anthem had finished, prompting immediate confusion from the gold-medalists on the podium and loud jeers from South Korean supporters in the stands.
An operations official quoted by NikkanSports stated, Current situation is under review.
It has been passed on to the operations headquarters and we are awaiting a response.
Operational Mishaps and Controversies at the 2026 Asian Games
The men’s football flag delay followed several other protocol and organizational errors during the Aichi-Nagoya competition. Earlier in the tournament, organizers mistakenly played the North Korean national anthem instead of South Korea’s during a men’s hockey match between South Korea and Bangladesh. In a separate ceremony for the men’s modern pentathlon team event, the gold-winning South Korean delegation was incorrectly announced as Taiwan.
A September 15 athletes’ village welcome event featured a person dressed as Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the historical figure responsible for the invasions of Korea. Members of the South Korean delegation entering the country on September 17 were unable to carry the Taegeukgi due to airport security issues, while a Rising Sun Flag appeared during the judo mixed team final between Japan and Kazakhstan at the Nagoya International Arena on October 3.
Four Straight Gold Medals Secured in Japan
On the pitch, the under-23 national team managed by Lee Min-sung secured South Korea’s fourth straight Asian Games men’s football championship following previous titles at the Incheon 2014, Jakarta-Palembang, and Hangzhou tournaments. Eom Ji-sung broke the scoreless deadlock in the 15th minute of the second half to seal the 1-0 win. The result marks the third time in recent tournaments that South Korea has defeated Japan in the final to capture the gold medal.