South Korea threaten to boycott the Asian Cup due to unequal conditions

South Korea’s women’s national football team threatened to boycott the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup over what they described as “discriminatory conditions” provided by the Korea Football Association (KFA).

• Players spoke about gruelling long-distance bus journeys, economy-class flights, and being housed in inadequate accommodation far from training grounds while on national duty. The statement also said that players were required to personally pay for essential items, including airport transfers and training kit, despite representing the national team.
• According the players women’s internationals have “silently endured poor and unreasonable conditions for many years”, pointing to “clear and undeniable differences” compared with the treatment of the men’s national team.