Son Heung-min's Pitch Complaints Prompt South Korean Ministry to Take Action

South Korea's sports ministry has pledged to upgrade the country's football pitches, citing the importance of well-maintained surfaces for player performance and fan satisfaction.

South Korea's sports ministry has announced plans to address the quality of pitches in the country, following criticism from national team captain Son Heung-min. The ministry will collaborate with the domestic football league to improve the condition of pitches, which Son believes has contributed to the team's poor performance in recent World Cup qualifiers.

Son's comments came after South Korea's disappointing results in their home World Cup qualifiers. Despite being three points clear in Group B in the third round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, the team would have already secured their spot in North America had they defeated Oman or Jordan in the recent international window. The sports ministry's decision to address the pitch quality issue is seen as a response to Son's concerns and a bid to support the national team's quest for success.

The South Korean national team's recent home qualifiers for the World Cup were marred by subpar pitch conditions, forcing the relocation of two matches from Seoul World Cup Stadium to regional cities. Despite the change in venue, star player Son Heung-min was unimpressed with the pitch conditions in Goyang and Suwon, where the team was held to draws in both matches.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has announced that it will collaborate with the K League to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the turf conditions at all 27 K League stadiums in an effort to address ongoing pitch quality issues. #kleague pic.twitter.com/aeVs6D5JuY

— Korea Football News (@KORFootballNews) March 27, 2025

The South Korean team's struggles at home have been evident in the current qualifying phase, with only one win in four matches played on home soil. The team has drawn the other three matches, highlighting the need for improvement in their home performances. The poor pitch conditions have been cited as a contributing factor to the team's lackluster results.

In response to the subpar pitch conditions, the South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued a statement emphasizing the importance of well-maintained football pitches. “Conditions of football pitches are directly related to the overall quality of games, as they can affect players' performances and fan satisfaction,” the ministry said, as reported by the Yonhap News agency.

The South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has pledged to address the issue of subpar pitch conditions, which have affected the national team's performance in recent World Cup qualifiers. The ministry aims to establish a sustainable management system for football pitches, ensuring that players have optimal conditions to compete. “We will come up with practical solutions to problems and also strengthen cooperation with the K League, individual clubs and stadium management personnel to establish a sustainable management system,” the ministry stated.

The ministry's initiative is not limited to the national team, as players in the K League have also expressed concerns about the state of pitches, particularly in cold conditions. To address this issue, the ministry will conduct inspections of surfaces at 27 stadiums hosting domestic matches, starting in April. This move aims to identify areas for improvement and ensure that pitches meet the required standards.

Despite the disappointing results in their recent home qualifiers, South Korea is on the verge of securing their 11th consecutive World Cup appearance. The team needs to avoid defeat against Iraq in Basra on June 5, followed by a home match against Kuwait on June 10 in their final qualifier. A positive outcome in these matches will ensure South Korea's participation in the 2026 World Cup.