South Korea suffered a shocking collapse against Uruguay on Monday, September 28, 2026, falling behind 3-0 at halftime in an international friendly at Seoul World Cup Stadium. The result stunned the home crowd just days after the Taeguk Warriors had looked sharp in a comfortable win over Ecuador.
Roberto Moreno, the interim head coach, watched his side unravel in the opening 45 minutes of only his second match at the helm. South Korea conceded shots early and signaled a difficult start, and the warning signs turned into goals in quick succession.
How Uruguay raced into a three-goal lead
The breakthrough came in the 13th minute when Uruguay's star striker Darwin Nunez scored the opening goal in the 14th minute of the first half, finishing a swift move started by his attacking partner. According to match commentary, Uruguay won the ball in South Korea's half, De Arrascaeta delivered a precise through pass, and Nunez calmly shot past Kim Seung-gyu in a one-on-one situation to open the scoring.
Uruguay did not let up. Midfielder Giorgian De Arrascaeta added another in the 27th minute, and reports described the strike as a spectacular long-range shot, extending the lead by two goals. A third blow followed before the break, with defender Kim Min-jae turning the ball into his own net to leave South Korea 0-3 down at halftime, according to live ESPN match data that also confirmed the sequence of goals from Núñez, De Arrascaeta and the Kim Min-jae own goal.
The scoreline represented a dramatic reversal for a South Korean side that had entered the match with genuine momentum. Earlier, South Korea secured a decisive 3-0 victory over Ecuador at Suwon World Cup Stadium on the 24th, a result that had raised expectations heading into the Uruguay clash.
Lee Kang-in's return and Moreno's lineup choices
Coach Moreno opted for an attack-minded setup, deploying Lee Kang-in on the right flank alongside Son Heung-min and Oh Hyun-gyu up front. The Korean playmaker tried to inject some early energy into the match, and in the 12th minute, Lee Kang-in attempted to shift momentum with a bold long-range shot. However, that effort could not prevent Uruguay's opening goal just moments later, and the aggressive lineup ultimately struggled to contain the visitors' attacking talent through the first half.
Two coaches, two very different starts
The match also carried significance for Uruguay's new project under former captain Diego Forlán, who took charge after Marcelo Bielsa's departure. Uruguay were knocked out of the FIFA World Cup at the group stage with Marcelo Bielsa now replaced by former captain Diego Forlan. Forlán's side had opened his tenure with a defeat, as during the September international window, the team suffered a defeat against Japan (1–3) in Asia, leaving Uruguay searching for its first win of the year before facing South Korea.
For Moreno, the picture had looked far brighter after his opening match. The Koreans have former Spain boss Robert Moreno in charge on an interim basis, and his first game in charge, the win over Ecuador, had been seen as an encouraging start. Monday's first-half collapse against a talented Uruguay attack represented the first real setback of his short tenure.
A rivalry that has rarely favored South Korea
History offered little comfort for the home side. On the biggest stage, the two nations have faced each other three times: first in the group stage at Italy 1990, with a 1–0 Uruguayan victory; second in the Round of 16 at South Africa 2010, with a 2–1 win driven by a Luis Suárez brace; and most recently in the group stage at Qatar 2022, which ended in a goalless draw (0–0). Away from World Cup competition, the South Korean team's only victory came during an international friendly in October 2018, when they won 2–1 in Seoul, underlining how rarely the Taeguk Warriors have gotten the better of La Celeste.
What comes next for both national teams
Regardless of how the second half of Monday's friendly unfolded, both federations already have their next assignments lined up for the October international window. During the October 2026 FIFA international window, the South Korean men's national football team will play two home friendly matches: the first on Friday, October 2, against Venezuela at Munsu Stadium in Ulsan, followed four days later, on Tuesday, October 6, by a match against Uzbekistan at Mir Stadium in Yongin. Uruguay, meanwhile, is also set to be back in action shortly, with an international friendly against the Indian national team scheduled away on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
For now, the lasting image from Seoul is that of a stunned home crowd watching Moreno's side dismantled inside the opening 45 minutes, a sharp contrast from the confidence built during the win over Ecuador just days earlier.