Shock for Vietnam's opponent: police raid the most powerful agency.

A significant upheaval hits South Korean football as Seoul police raid the KFA offices over the hiring of coach Hong Myung-bo.

South Korean football is experiencing turbulent days as the KFA suddenly becomes the focus of an investigation. Notably, this unfolds just months before the national team heads to the AFC Asian Cup 2027 in Saudi Arabia, a tournament where the Taegeuk Warriors share a group with Vietnam.

According to Reuters, Seoul police searched the KFA headquarters on August 6 as part of an investigation into allegations of obstruction of operations during the appointment process of head coach Hong Myung-bo. This case has been controversial for some time and reignited after South Korea's disappointing performance at the 2026 World Cup.

The incident originated in 2024 when the KFA ended a months-long search for a coach with many foreign candidates and abruptly appointed Hong Myung-bo after a brief meeting. This decision immediately sparked controversy due to the lack of transparency in the selection process.

After South Korea was eliminated in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup, criticism intensified. During a parliamentary hearing last month, coach Hong Myung-bo denied receiving preferential treatment in the appointment process and took responsibility for the team's underwhelming performance at the world's biggest football event.

Earlier, the South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism concluded that the KFA had violated its own internal regulations in appointing both Hong Myung-bo and his predecessor Jurgen Klinsmann. The ministry deemed the meeting between the technical director and Hong Myung-bo as not constituting a proper interview. However, the audit found no evidence of legal violations and did not call for the termination of the 1969-born strategist's contract.

It is known that South Korean police received a complaint and opened an investigation prior to the 2026 World Cup. The search of the KFA headquarters is seen as a new step to gather additional documents for verification. As of now, no criminal conclusions have been reached regarding coach Hong Myung-bo or KFA officials.

The latest developments draw even more attention as South Korea will be one of Vietnam's opponents in the group stage of the 2027 Asian Cup. Although the investigation is not directly related to on-field performance, the turmoil at the top of the KFA could create significant pressure on South Korean football as it prepares for the continental tournament.

Meanwhile, Vietnam is in the campaign of AFF Cup 2026 aiming to defend their title and actively looking ahead to the 2027 Asian Cup. The off-field troubles facing South Korean football will undoubtedly remain a topic closely followed by media and fans in the region.