The Korea Football Association has appointed Robert Moreno as interim coach of South Korea’s men’s senior national team. This was not merely a “designated” appointment: the KFA’s seventh board meeting of 2026 approved the appointment of six members of the coaching staff. The appointment announcement was also posted on the KFA’s official website that day.
Key Changes
Moreno’s contract has been reported to run through November 27, 2026. He is expected to lead six matches held during three international windows from September through November 2026.
This appointment has been reported as the first case in which the KFA selected a men’s senior national team coach through an open recruitment process.
Current Status
The confirmed details are Moreno’s appointment as interim coach and the scope of his responsibility for six matches. Reports indicate that his contract includes a condition under which he could continue to lead the national team through the 2027 Asian Cup depending on the evaluation after the six matches, but an extension has not been finalized.
Moreno served as FC Barcelona’s assistant coach from 2014 to 2017 and as assistant coach and head coach of the Spain national team from 2018 to 2019. During the 2024–25 season, he managed FC Sochi.
Impact
The national team will begin under its new interim coach with four home friendly matches in September and October.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 24 | Ecuador | Suwon World Cup Stadium | 8:00 p.m. |
| September 28 | Uruguay | Seoul World Cup Stadium | 8:00 p.m. |
| October 2 | Venezuela | Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium | 8:00 p.m. |
| October 6 | Uzbekistan | Yongin Mireu Stadium | 8:00 p.m. |
These four matches are the publicly confirmed home fixtures among the six matches Moreno is scheduled to lead from September through November. The opponents, venues, and kickoff times for the two November matches were not specifically confirmed in this review.
Next Checkpoint
The first key date to watch is the Ecuador match on September 24. Depending on how the six matches are managed and the evaluation results, Moreno’s contract could potentially continue through the 2027 Asian Cup. However, the November schedule and any contract extension should be checked again at the time of publication.
Sources: [Korea Football Association official website](https://www.kfa.or.kr/national/?act=nt_man&position=DF&s_idx=376&search_val=2026) · [CHOSUNBIZ](https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-sports/2026/09/01/ZGXX3OVDONHHNPELMCCDQWTOOI/?outputType=amp) · [Sports World](https://www.sportsworldi.com/newsView/20260901508284) · [The Korea Times](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/sports/20260819/who-are-candidates-for-interim-coach-of-koreas-national-football-team) · [OSEN](https://v.daum.net/v/20260818113937301)
Checked: September 1, 2026, 03:20 UTC