Seoul: South Korea will host Paraguay in a men’s football friendly in October as part of their preparation for next year’s FIFA World Cup, officials announced Thursday. The Korea Football Association (KFA) confirmed the match will be played on October 14, coinciding with the conclusion of the October 6-14 FIFA international match window. The KFA noted that the venue and kickoff time will be decided later.

According to Yonhap News Agency, this upcoming encounter marks the first match between the two countries since June 10, 2022. During that friendly, South Korea managed to rally from a 2-0 deficit to secure a 2-2 draw against Paraguay. Historically, the two teams have faced each other seven times, with South Korea achieving two wins, four draws, and one loss.

South Korea, currently ranked 23rd in the world, have successfully qualified for their 11th consecutive World Cup, having finished at the top of Group B in the third round of the Asian qualifiers. Meanwhile, Paraguay, ranked 48th globally, are positioned fifth in the South American qualifying tournament, where the top six teams will advance to the World Cup. Paraguay’s qualifiers are set to conclude with two matches in September.