Seoul: Deuces will be wild in the final of the top national football tournament at the end of November, when two regional rivals in the top-flight K League 1 will clash for supremacy. Ulsan HD FC and Pohang Steelers will square off in the one-and-done final of the Korea Cup tournament at 3 p.m. on Nov. 30 at Seoul World Cup Stadium.According to Yonhap News Agency, Ulsan will aim for a domestic double, having clinched the K League 1 title earlier this month with two matches left in the season. Achieving this would mark their second Korea Cup victory. Representatives from the two teams posed with the champion's trophy during their prematch press conference at the Korea Football Association House in Seoul on Nov. 21, 2024. The attendees included Pohang Steelers midfielder Han Chan-hee, head coach Park Tae-ha, Ulsan HD FC head coach Kim Pan-gon, and midfielder Kim Min-woo.Pohang Steelers, on the other hand, will strive to claim their second consecutive Korea Cup title and their sixth overall, which would esta blish them as the most successful club in the tournament's 38-year history. The match between these two clubs is famously known as the "East Coast Derby" due to their geographic proximity in the eastern part of the nation. This will be their first encounter in a Korea Cup final.During the pretournament press conference, Ulsan head coach Kim Pan-gon expressed enthusiasm about facing such a formidable opponent. He stated, "It's tough to find weaknesses in Pohang. They are a very well-organized team and they are technically sound. But I am confident that we have as strong of a squad as anyone in the league. We will try harder to identify Pohang's weaknesses and also focus on things we can do well."Pohang's head coach, Park Tae-ha, noted that Ulsan is "an aging team" with veteran players forming the core. He remarked, "I think they may have trouble with speed. We will try to exploit that to our advantage. Our rivalry matches always produce great stories. And since this will be the one-legged final, it's that much more difficult to predict how the match will play out."Ulsan midfielder Kim Min-woo, who previously won the 2019 Korea Cup with Suwon Samsung Bluewings in a two-legged final, expressed his excitement about playing a single decisive match. He mentioned his desire to be the hero but acknowledged that another veteran midfielder, 36-year-old Lee Chung-yong, might have something special planned for the final. "He has so much experience in big matches and he has been able to maintain a high level of play," Kim said. "He has been showing off great skills in training sessions and I think he's going to surprise people in the final."Pohang midfielder Han Chan-hee, who scored the opening goal in last year's FA Cup final against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, shared his ambitions for this year's championship match. He humorously noted that his previous goal was not widely remembered and stated, "This year, I'll try to score a more important goal."
- October 12, 2026
