Manchester City's Phil Foden delivers a cross during the 2026 Coupang Play Series match against Team K League at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Mapo District, western Seoul, on Aug. 5.YONHAP
On a sweltering Wednesday night at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Mapo District, western Seoul, Manchester City brought even more heat in a showcase against a K League all-star team.
The Premier League powerhouse cruised to a 3-1 victory over Team K League in the English side's first of two preseason friendlies in Korea. Returning for the first time since 2023, the six-time league champions over the last decade showcased their quality with stars including Phil Foden, Josko Gvardiol, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The K League's biggest names, including Lee Seung-woo of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Lee Dong-gyeong of Ulsan HD, Son Jeong-beom of FC Seoul and Ki Sung-yueng of Pohang Steelers, failed to register a goal or an assist.
Even at the 8 p.m. kickoff, temperatures remained around 33 degrees Celsius (91.4 degrees Fahrenheit).
The 3-1 result has only heightened anticipation for City's upcoming showdown with Atlético Madrid, which will be played at the same venue on Sunday. The match is expected to mark midfielder Lee Kang-in's debut for Atlético after his transfer from Paris Saint-Germain last month.
The heat may have affected the festivities, with only 28,036 spectators in attendance at the stadium, which has a capacity of about 66,000.
Players from Team K League and Manchester City, along with the match officials, line up before the Coupang Play Series match at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Mapo District, western Seoul, on Aug. 5.NEWS1
Manchester City's Phil Foden dribbles past Team K League's Ki Sung-yueng during the Coupang Play Series match at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Mapo District, western Seoul, on Aug. 5.NEWS1
Several of City's biggest stars, including Erling Haaland of Norway and Rodri of Spain, did not travel to Korea as they are still in a mandatory recovery period after representing their national teams at last month's FIFA World Cup 2026.
The stadium remained only about half full until 15 minutes before kickoff, and many seats stayed empty until the final whistle.
The scene contrasted sharply with previous visits by European clubs. Tottenham Hotspur drew crowds of about 64,000 during matches in Seoul in 2022 and 2024, while Atlético attracted around 58,000 fans at the same venue in 2023.
Whenever a goal was scored, however, the atmosphere came alive as the stands erupted and briefly forgot the oppressive heat.
City carved through the K League defense with crisp passing and individual brilliance. The visitors took the lead in the ninth minute when Ait-Nouri curled a precise right-footed shot into the net.
Manchester City's Rayan Ait-Nouri dribbles the ball during the 2026 Coupang Play Series match against Team K League at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Mapo District, western Seoul, on Aug. 5.YONHAP
Team K League's Kim Dae-won, center, celebrates after scoring the equalizer during the 2026 Coupang Play Series match against Manchester City at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Mapo District, western Seoul, on Aug. 5.YONHAP
Team K League equalized four minutes later through Kim Dae-won of Gangwon FC, but City quickly regained control.
Tijjani Reijnders restored the lead in the 20th minute with a first-time finish before Divine Mukasa added a third in the 24th minute to put the match beyond doubt.
As the game wore on, Team K League struggled to cope with City's relentless high press and precise passing combinations.
Manchester City's Rayan Ait-Nouri celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during the 2026 Coupang Play Series match against Team K League at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Mapo District, western Seoul, on Aug. 5.YONHAP
Both teams made six or seven substitutions at halftime to help players cope with the extreme heat, while City introduced another six players in the 60th minute.
Around the stadium, the English side's sky-blue jerseys dominated the crowd, while fans wearing shirts representing various K League clubs added splashes of color.
Manchester City players applaud the fans after defeating Team K League 3-1 in the 2026 Coupang Play Series at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Mapo District, western Seoul, on Aug. 5.YONHAP
With record-breaking heat raising concerns about spectator safety, organizers stepped up precautions. Coupang Play, the event organizer, deployed additional ambulances and medical personnel beyond its usual staffing levels.
BY PIH JU-YOUNG [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
