As the FIFA World Cup started in Russia last week, here is how Asia- Pacific countries are ranked by the global football body.　On the global ranking, Australia is the only country from the Asia-Pacific that ranks in the top 50.　South Korea is ranked 57 and is the only Asian country that has qualified nine times for the world cup. It is also the only Asian country to win the most entertaining team award at 2002 FIFA world Cup. Two players from the team were also voted members of the MasterCard A

MOSCOW -- Germany must shrug off a rocky World Cup build-up as they begin the defence of their title on Sunday against a vastly experienced Mexico side jolted by their own pre-tournament scandal.While Manuel Neuer finally won his lengthy fitness battle after more than eight months out, Mesut Ozil and Ilkay Gundogan were jeered by Germany fans in recent friendlies after posing for a photograph alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos said what is discusse

KALININGRAD, Russia -- Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr admitted his young team had been "naive" in a 2-0 loss to Croatia in their opening Group D game Saturday, continuing a dismal recent record at World Cups.A Luka Modric penalty 20 minutes from time and a first-half own goal sealed victory for a Croatia side brimming with technical ability, and the Super Eagles -- who brought the youngest squad to Russia -- have now won just one of their last 13 games on football's biggest stage.  "We are disappoint

NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia -- South Korea on Saturday arrived in the Russian city where they will play their first match at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.South Korea's 23-man squad took a chartered flight from Saint Petersburg to land in Nizhny Novgorod, where they will take on Sweden for their Group F opening match at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Monday. South Korea, led by head coach Shin Tae-yong, arrived at their World Cup base camp in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Tuesday after training for a week in Aus

South Korea will try to create an upset when they go head-to-head against Sweden in their 2018 FIFA World Cup opening match this week. (Yonhap)South Korea will take on Sweden in their Group F opener at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Nizhny Novgorod on Monday. The match will start at 3 p.m., local time, or 9 p.m., Seoul time. South Korea, in their 10th World Cup, are certain underdogs in their group, where they are also paired with defending champions Germany and Latin American powerhouses Mexico. Ne

The nation's capital and other major cities are planning street cheering events for South Korean matches at the FIFA World Cup in Russia, hoping to create buzz for an event that has been overshadowed by political and diplomatic events here.Seoul announced earlier this week that it will organize outdoor viewing parties with the Korea Football Association at Seoul Plaza, in front of Seoul City Hall, and Gwanghwamun Square.South Korea's first Group F match is against Sweden at 9 p.m. next Monday. T

 The Korea Republic national team held an open training Saint Petersburg’s Spartak Stadium on Wednesday ahead of the 2018 World Cup.After the training, several football players, including Kim Shinwook, the striker for K League club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, met their fans, signed autographs and took selfies.The team is to face Germany, Mexico, and Sweden in the Group F games.(Ruptly)

SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia -- The 2018 FIFA World Cup kicked off in Russia on Thursday as South Korea await their 10th appearance in football's showpiece event.The 2018 World Cup started its monthlong journey with the opening ceremony ahead of the tournament opener between Russia and Saudi Arabia at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. A total of 64 matches will be played in 12 venues in 11 Russian cities until July 15.This is the 21st edition of the quadrennial football tournament contested by the men's n

　Brazil has been the most successful at the FIFA World Cup over the years, with five wins, followed by Germany and Italy with four wins each. Brazil has also made it to the list of final 32 teams 21 times and advanced to the finals eight times. 

SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia -- -- South Korean right back Lee Yong said Thursday he is confident man-marking Sweden's playmaker Emil Forsberg when they face each other in an upcoming World Cup match.South Korea are in World Cup Group F with Sweden, Mexico and Germany. The Taeguk Warriors are scheduled to have their 2018 World Cup opener with Sweden at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, on Monday. Lee, who plays with South Korean club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, said he is confident of

SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia -- South Korea started their first training in Russia on Wednesday as they entered the final phase of 2018 FIFA World Cup preparations.South Korea, led by head coach Shin Tae-yong, had an open training session at Spartak Stadium in Lomonosov, a suburb of Saint Petersburg, in front of some 250 fans and 100 reporters. It was their first training in the host nation of the 2018 World Cup after arriving at their base camp in St. Petersburg on Tuesday.South Korea are in World

SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia -- South Korean captain Ki Sung-yueng is one of those players who isn't afraid to express his thoughts and feelings.In a recent friendly match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ki threw away his captain's armband in the locker room during the halftime after his side conceded two goals at home. After South Korea were held to a scoreless draw against Bolivia in their World Cup tuneup match in Austria, the Swansea City midfielder told reporters that he felt like he was a "lia

WASHINGTON -- The top US counterintelligence official is advising Americans traveling to Russia for football’s World Cup beginning this week that they should not take electronic devices because they are likely to be hacked by criminals or the Russian government. In a statement to Reuters on Tuesday, William Evanina, an FBI agent and the director of the US National Counterintelligence and Security Center, warned World Cup travelers that even if they think they are insignificant, hackers could sti

SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia (Yonhap) -- South Korea are readying for their stay at their World Cup base camp as the national football team's supporting staff arrived in Russia's second-largest city to lay the groundwork in Russia.The Korea Football Association said three officials of its national team supporting crew arrived in Saint Petersburg on Sunday for advance work for South Korea's base camp during the 2018 FIFA World Cup.Saint Petersburg Stadium in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on Monday. (Yonh

LEOGANG, Austria -- South Korea's national football team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup kicked off its training in Austria on Monday.The men's national team arrived in its pre-World Cup training camp in Leogang, Austria, on Sunday after traveling more than 15 hours from Incheon International Airport. The 23 players didn't train in the morning as they took rest to overcome jetlag. Some of them were seen taking massages from their medical staff to relieve tight muscles from the long trip. The team at